Head of Product Development - 59086937461

Job Title: Head of Product Development Job Type: Full-time / Remote Work Hours: US Hours Job Overview: We’re helping our client find a Head of Product Development to build and scale a world‑class product portfolio across multiple health and wellness categories. In this role, you will lead end‑to‑end product development—from concept through commercialization—while contributing to building a best‑in‑class, globally competitive DTC wellness brand. This role is for someone who has built and scaled massive product pipelines across multiple brands, categories, and form factors – and who understands that great product development is the intersection of science, commercial acumen, and brand storytelling. You will report directly to the CEO and have a seat at the leadership table. Responsibilities: Product Pipeline & Roadmap Build and manage a deep, rolling product pipeline across multiple categories: men’s health, women’s health, kids, longevity, performance, hydration, weight management, and emerging verticals. Drive product development from concept through commercialization across all form factors: powders, gummies, liquids, soft gels, capsules, effervescent tablets, sachets, RTDs, and new delivery formats. Own the 12–18 month product roadmap with clear gate-stage milestones, prioritised by commercial opportunity, competitive gap analysis, and brand‑market fit. Develop category expansion strategies informed by global market trends, consumer insights, clinical research, and competitive intelligence. Identify white‑space opportunities in underpenetrated demographics and health verticals before the market catches up. Formulation & Product Excellence Lead formulation strategy with an obsession for clinical dosing, ingredient transparency, and product efficacy – no fairy‑dusting, no proprietary blends that hide weak formulations. Evaluate and select branded ingredients, patented compounds, and novel actives – balancing efficacy, IP defensibility, regulatory clearance, and COGS impact. Manage relationships with scientific advisors, KOLs, and clinical research partners to validate formulations and generate credible substantiation. Stay ahead of ingredient innovation, regulatory shifts (FDA, EFSA, TGA, MHRA), and emerging science across nutraceuticals, functional foods, and adjacent categories. Own stability testing, heavy metals compliance (Prop 65, USP), allergen management, and multi‑market regulatory filings across 31+ countries. Contract Manufacturing & Supply Chain Source, evaluate, negotiate, and manage contract manufacturers (CMOs/CDMOs) globally across all form factors – with a sharp focus on quality, cost, speed, and scalability. Drive aggressive COGS optimisation without compromising product quality – negotiate raw material pricing, MOQs, lead times, and production economics. Build a diversified supplier base to mitigate single‑source risk, geopolitical disruption, and supply chain volatility. Oversee tech transfer, scale‑up production, QA/QC protocols, and line trials for new product launches. Establish vendor scorecards and performance reviews with clear SLAs covering quality, on‑time delivery, and defect rates. Commercial Product Strategy Partner with the CEO and commercial team to align product development with revenue targets, margin requirements, and DTC/omni‑channel strategy. Own landed COGS modelling and unit economics for every SKU – ensuring products are commercially viable at scale while maintaining premium positioning. Build product bundles, subscription architectures (monthly vs. quarterly), and tiered SKU structures that maximise LTV and reduce churn. Collaborate with marketing on product storytelling, hero ingredient narratives, and competitive positioning – translating complex science into consumer‑facing claims that convert. Inform pricing strategy through competitive benchmarking, willingness‑to‑pay analysis, and margin stack modelling across markets. Brand & Storytelling Integration Work closely with the Scientific Advisory Board to validate formulations, pressure‑test ingredient choices, and ensure every product meets the highest standards of clinical credibility. Develop compelling "why this product exists" stories that give marketing, content, and sales teams a strong foundation for go‑to‑market. Create product education materials, ingredient deep‑dives, and comparison frameworks that equip the brand team to win the trust conversation with consumers. Ensure every product launch has a clear competitive moat – whether it’s a proprietary formulation, a category‑first innovation, or a clinically validated claim. Must‑Have: 10+ years in product development, formulation, or R&D leadership within supplements, nutraceuticals, functional foods/beverages, or consumer health – with at least 5 years in a senior/VP‑level role. Proven track record building and scaling product pipelines across multiple brands and categories simultaneously (multi‑brand experience strongly preferred – think Oddity, Hims & Hers, Church & Dwight, Reckitt, Clorox Nutranext, MaryRuth Organics, Ritual, or equivalent). Deep hands‑on experience managing contract manufacturers for powders, gummies, soft gels, liquids, and capsules at scale – you’ve been on factory floors, not just in boardrooms. Strong understanding of COGS structures, margin modelling, and the commercial trade‑offs of ingredient decisions, sourcing, and packaging. Experience in DTC and/or high‑growth consumer brands with a track record of launching 15+ SKUs in a compressed timeframe. Working knowledge of global regulatory frameworks: FDA (DSHEA), EFSA Novel Foods, TGA, MHRA, and international labelling/claims compliance. Experience with branded/patented ingredients and relationships with major ingredient suppliers (Lonza, Kyowa Hakko, Sabinsa, Cognizin, Albion, etc.). Nice‑to‑Have: Builder, not a bureaucrat – you thrive in fast‑moving environments where speed and quality must coexist. Commercially wired – you don’t just create great products, you understand how they sell, retain, and generate margin. Obsessively curious about health, wellness, and longevity trends – you’re already tracking the latest on GLP‑1 adjacencies, adaptogens, nootropics, bioavailability tech, and precision nutrition. Direct communicator who can hold their own with a CEO, defend their formulation choices, and push back when the science doesn’t support the marketing ask. Comfortable operating across time zones and cultures – our supply chain, markets, and partners are global. Relentless quality standard – you’d rather delay a launch than ship something that isn’t the best in its class. #J-18808-Ljbffr Activate Talent