Product Development Manager (Beverages)

Job Summary

The Product Development Manager (Beverages) is responsible for leading the innovation, formulation, and technical development of beverage products across multiple categories (coffee, tea, nutritional drinks, and other ready-to-drink products).

This role provides strategic direction and hands-on leadership to ensure that new products deliver superior taste, quality, and cost efficiency — aligning with consumer insights and the company’s business growth strategy.

The position oversees the end-to-end R&D process from ideation to commercialization, managing a team of scientists and collaborating closely with Marketing, Supply Chain, Quality Assurance, and Manufacturing functions.

Key Responsibilities

1. Product Development Leadership

• Lead the beverage product development pipeline from concept to launch, including ideation, formulation, prototyping, testing, and commercialization.
• Direct and coach a team of R&D executives and technicians to deliver high-quality, consumer-driven innovations on time and within budget.
• Define technical strategies and formulation guidelines to achieve optimal sensory performance, stability, and cost targets.

2. Technical & Scientific Excellence

• Oversee lab- and pilot-scale trials, ensuring scientific rigor in testing, sensory validation, and shelf-life studies.
• Evaluate and approve new raw materials, ingredients, and technologies that drive innovation and cost optimization.
• Ensure that all formulations and processes comply with food safety, regulatory, and internal quality standards.

3. Cross-functional Collaboration

• Partner with Marketing and Consumer Insight teams to translate market trends and consumer needs into viable product concepts.
• Collaborate with Operations and Quality to scale up formulations and ensure smooth transition from pilot to factory production.
• Work closely with Procurement on supplier qualification and ingredient optimization for cost and performance efficiency.

4. Project & Stakeholder Management

• Manage multiple R&D projects simultaneously, prioritizing resources effectively to meet innovation timelines.
• Present technical recommendations and progress updates to senior management and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Ensure thorough documentation of R&D activities, formulation data, and trial results in compliance with company standards.

5. Continuous Improvement & People Development

• Drive continuous improvement in R&D processes, methodologies, and documentation practices.
• Mentor and develop junior team members, fostering a culture of innovation, scientific curiosity, and accountability.
• Keep abreast of new beverage technologies, market trends, and regulatory changes to proactively propose product upgrades or new launches.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Food Technology, Food Science, Chemistry, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 5–7 years in product development or R&D within the FMCG or Beverage industry, including at least 2 years in a supervisory or managerial role.
• Strong background in beverage formulation, sensory evaluation, and process scale-up.
• Deep understanding of food chemistry, ingredient interactions, and stability principles.
• Experience managing pilot plants and commercialization scale-up.
• Strong analytical thinking, data interpretation, and project management skills.
• Proficiency in MS Office and formulation databases/tools.

• Attractive salary package
• 13th fixed months of salary
• Full participation in social insurance, health insurance, holidays, Tet, bonuses according to the law
• High promotion opportunities
• Young, dynamic, comfortable working environment