Job Title

Job Title: Senior Manager - New Product Development (NPD) Location: Kolkata Reports To: Head of Innovation Job Summary This role will drive end-to-end New Product Development from concept to launch, with a strong focus on product strategy, consumer insights, brand alignment, packaging innovation, and go-to-market execution. The role will act as a bridge between marketing, packaging, supply chain, regulatory, and external formulation partners to deliver differentiated, market-ready products. Formulation execution will be managed via internal/external R&D partners and not owned hands-on by this role. Key Responsibilities NPD Strategy & Product Ownership - Own the overall NPD roadmap, translating brand vision, consumer insights, and market opportunities into compelling product concepts. - Lead product ideation, concept development, positioning, and differentiation, ensuring strong brand and commercial fit. - Define product briefs, claims frameworks, and success metrics in collaboration with marketing and business teams. - Act as the single point of accountability for products from concept to commercialization. Cross-Functional & Project Management - Drive the end-to-end NPD lifecycle, ensuring timely execution across functions and external partners. - Collaborate closely with marketing, packaging, regulatory, supply chain, finance, and external formulation labs to ensure seamless product development and launch readiness. - Own project plans, timelines, and critical milestones; proactively flag and mitigate risks. - Ensure alignment between product concept, packaging, claims, costing, and launch timelines. Packaging & Design Innovation - Packaging strategy and development, including material selection, structure, sustainability, cost optimization, and visual differentiation. - Partner with design agencies and vendors to deliver packaging that enhances brand storytelling, shelf impact, and consumer experience. - Stay updated on sustainable packaging trends and innovations, ensuring compliance and scalability. Market, Consumer & Competitive Insights - Drive market and consumer research to identify white spaces, trends, and unmet needs. - Monitor competitive launches and industry trends to inform innovation and renovation pipelines. - Translate insights into clear product propositions and launch narratives. Regulatory, Quality & Launch Readiness - Work closely with regulatory and compliance teams to ensure claims substantiation, packaging compliance, and documentation readiness. - Coordinate product testing, certifications, and approvals through internal teams and external partners. - Ensure products are fully launch-ready across channels. Financial & Commercial Alignment - Build and evaluate business cases for new products, including pricing, margins, and cost structures. - Partner with finance and procurement on cost optimization, vendor negotiations, and profitability goals. - Support leadership with data-backed recommendations on portfolio prioritization. Qualifications & Experience - Bachelor's or Master's degree in Business, Marketing, Packaging, Cosmetic Science, or a related field. - 8+ years of experience in NPD / product management within beauty, personal care, or FMCG. - Strong exposure to product commercialization, packaging development, and cross-functional project leadership. - Experience working with external formulation partners or R&D teams (hands-on formulation not required). - Proven success in launching products at scale. Key Competencies - Strong product mindset with consumer-first thinking - Excellent stakeholder and vendor management skills - Strategic yet execution-focused - Strong communication and decision-making abilities - Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving environment