POSITION TITLE New Product Development & Business Development Specialist / Manager
POSITION SUMMARY
In this position, you will identify new market opportunities, develop innovative retail food products, support commercialization activities, and manage product development projects from concept through market launch while collaborating closely with internal teams, customers, and suppliers
RESPONSIBILITIES
Analyze consumer trends, category performance, buyer behavior, and competitive activity
Develop innovative retail product concepts
Gather customer feedback through meetings, store visits, and product presentations
Conduct product costing, pricing analysis, and margin evaluations
Collaborate with domestic and international suppliers on product development
Prepare product proposals, presentations, samples, and commercialization plans
Coordinate packaging, branding, pricing, and go-to-market strategies with internal stakeholders
Manage the full product development lifecycle from concept to launch
Travel domestically and internationally to support business growth and product development
Provide reports on development progress, commercialization readiness, compliance, and launch performance
QUALIFICATIONS
5+ years of experience in retail food product development, brand management, category management, or related commercial functions
Proven experience launching products from concept through commercialization
Strong market analysis and consumer insight capabilities
Experience in product costing, pricing strategy, and profitability analysis
Understanding of retail supply chains, packaging, merchandising, and food safety standards
Strong project management and cross-functional collaboration skills
Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Product Development, Business, Marketing, or a related field
PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS
Experience with Asian, Japanese, or international food categories
Experience presenting products to retail buyers
Knowledge of international sourcing, import/export operations, and logistics
Track record of launching products into new channels or consumer segments
Japanese language skills are a plus
LOCATION Novato, CA
EMPLOYMENT TYPE Full-Time (onsite)
SALARY USD 100,000-130,000 base salary plus bonus
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