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We are a dynamic company focused on leveraging data to drive business insights and improve performance across retail and eCommerce channels.
Head of Product Development - 59086937461
Location
South Africa
Posted
67 days ago
Salary
0
Seniority
Lead
Job Description
Head of Product Development - 59086937461
Activate Talent
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.
Job Requirements
- 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.
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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.
Head of Product Development - 59086937461
Activate TalentWe are a dynamic company focused on leveraging data to drive business insights and improve performance across retail and eCommerce channels.
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.
• Product Manager I serves as an individual contributor within a team • Focused on program tactical assignments in order to meet defined milestones • Progressive engagement with agile methods to enable and support cross-functional workflows and the iterative delivery of products and features • Works in conjunction with product leadership to devise the product roadmap, and other artifacts • Translates user needs and business goals into well-defined user stories for design and implementation • Supports a cross-functional team in the delivery of required deliverables and milestones • Directly supports a product manager, or cross-functional product teams in order to meet delivery obligations • Develops effective user stories and related artifacts (e.g. business analysis, process flows, diagrams) • Enables cross-functional workflows and the iterative delivery of features and products • Responsible for collecting quantitative product data • Supports stakeholders by gathering product requirements and aligning requirements to business goals • Measures and reports upon key performance indicators • Participates in agile ceremonies, inclusive of daily standups, backlog grooming, spring planning and team retrospectives
• Product Manager II serves as an individual contributor within a team • You will be responsible for supporting the goal of meeting scope, schedule and delivery requirements • Focused on program tactical assignments, but may support more strategic initiatives • Works in conjunction with product leadership to help shape the vision and strategy • Participates in the strategy process, serving as an active contributor • Supports trainings and activities, inclusive of product strategy workshops • Serves as a mentor to junior level team members • Works with stakeholders to define key performance indicators
