Overview
The Product Developer Director is responsible for building and refining Innovation pipelines and MVPs based on chef-created gold standards. This role sits at the intersection of culinary vision and technical feasibility—translating ideas into tangible product forms that work in real-world prep systems and scale through external partners. Working closely with Food Technologists and the Culinary team, the Product Developer Director brings agility, iteration, and a maker mindset to every phase of development—from concept to pilot.
Responsibilities
* MVP Prototyping: Lead the development of early product prototypes that translate gold standard culinary concepts into testable, scalable formats.
* Packaging Fit & Format Optimization: Collaborate with Food Experience and Design team to ensure MVPs work within packaging, assembly, and consumption contexts.
* Support Agile Sprints prototyping: Participate in sprint cycles to test variations, respond to insights, and iterate quickly the product design with cross-functional teams.
* Partner with Co-Man & Supply Chain: Assist in transferring MVPs into early-stage pilot trials and adjust based on manufacturing or ingredient constraints.
* Document & Communicate: Maintain clear records of product builds, test outcomes, prep protocols, initial cost, and improvements for traceability, product safety and quality and scale-up readiness.
Success in This Role Looks Like
* MVPs that are production-aware, consumer-friendly, and ready for pilot trials.
* Fast, high-quality iteration cycles with documented learnings.
* Culinary integrity retained through prep system design and real-world testing.
* Innovation pipeline, ownership and creation
Qualifications
* Degree in Food Science, Product Design, Culinary Innovation, or related fields
* 8-10 years in product development and innovation of culinary products including culinary prototyping
* Self-starter with strong hands-on attitude and team player
* Strong experience with consumer preparation systems, packaging integration, and cross-functional development
* Understanding of basic quality aspects of culinary products
* Comfortable operating in ambiguous or high-speed environments
* Familiarity with co-manufacturing and pilot production processes is a plus
* Strong communications skills, network
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