BAJO FOODS - Head - New Product Development - Snacks/Savouries Functional Food

Position Summary:

Lo Foods is among the fastest-growing companies in the functional foods space, with 4 established brands and a strong innovation pipeline. We are seeking a Head of New Product Development (NPD) to spearhead product innovation, manage improvements in existing product lines, and drive the launch of cutting-edge nutritional products.

This role is pivotal in bringing differentiated, consumer-centric products to market at speed while ensuring regulatory compliance, quality, and commercial viability. The ideal candidate will be a hands-on leader with expertise across food technology, nutrition, marketing, supply chain, and sensory evaluation, along with a proven track record in scaling product innovation from ideation to market launch.

Key Responsibilities:

Product Innovation & Pipeline Development:

- Drive the innovation roadmap, delivering 1518 new launches over the next 1215 months.

- Lead ideation, formulation, and prototyping of functional food products with unique nutritional value propositions.

- Enhance current products through sensory upgrades, nutritional enrichment, and shelf-life improvements.

- Introduce innovative, sustainable packaging solutions aligned with consumer needs.

Nutritional Research & Market Insights:

- Track global nutrition trends, emerging ingredients, and technologies for adaptation to Indian consumers.

- Research functional ingredients and their health benefits, translating insights into viable products.

- Benchmark competition and identify whitespace opportunities.

Vendor & Manufacturing Partnerships:

- Identify and onboard new manufacturing partners and co-packers to scale innovation.

- Collaborate with suppliers for sourcing novel ingredients and packaging solutions.

- Partner with procurement to achieve the best cost-to-quality ratio.

Sensory, Quality & Compliance:

- Oversee sensory evaluations (taste, texture, aroma, appearance) to ensure consumer acceptability.

- Ensure 100% compliance with FSSAI and global food regulations; manage documentation for product approvals, labels, and claims.

- Implement best practices in product specifications, SOPs, and technical documentation.

Cost Optimization & Commercial Viability:

- Balance innovation with profitability through cost monitoring and reduction opportunities.

- Partner with finance and procurement on feasibility studies, pricing, and scale-up plans.

Cross-functional Collaboration & Communication:

-Work with Marketing on product positioning, nutritional claims, and GTM strategies.

- Provide scientific backing and content for packaging, campaigns, and consumer education.

- Lead internal knowledge-sharing sessions on nutrition trends and product innovation.

Qualifications & Skills:

- Bachelors/Masters in Food Technology, Food Science, Nutrition, or related field.

- 8-12 years of experience in FMCG/Nutrition/Food manufacturing with direct NPD exposure.

- Proven success in fast-paced product launches and managing end-to-end NPD lifecycle.

- Hands-on knowledge of functional ingredients, clean-label formulations, sensory evaluation, and shelf-life extension.

- Strong understanding of FSSAI, labeling laws, and nutrition claims regulations.

- Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously with speed and accuracy.

- Strong leadership, vendor management, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Why Join Lo Foods?

At Lo Foods, you will:

- Build the next generation of functional food products for India.

- Work in an innovation-driven, high-growth environment.

- Have the autonomy to lead NPD across brands and categories.

- Play a direct role in shaping consumer health through purposeful nutrition.