Position Summary
JJM Packaging is seeking a knowledgeable and detail-oriented Product Development Manager to support the development, optimization, and commercialization of dietary supplement products. This role is responsible for creating and refining formulations that meet customer specifications, regulatory requirements, quality standards, and manufacturing capabilities.
The Product Development Manager will collaborate closely with Sales, Operations, Quality Assurance, Purchasing, and Production to develop innovative products, troubleshoot formulation challenges, and successfully transition products from concept through commercial manufacturing.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
- Develop new dietary supplement formulations for powders, stick packs, and other dosage forms.
- Reformulate existing products to improve manufacturability, stability, ingredient compatibility, performance, and cost.
- Evaluate ingredient functionality, interactions, and compatibility to ensure product quality and consistency.
- Conduct bench-top, pilot, and production-scale formulation trials.
- Work closely with Production to resolve formulation and processing challenges during manufacturing.
- Prepare and maintain formulation records, batch instructions, manufacturing specifications, and technical documentation.
- Support new product commercialization by coordinating formulation development through production launch.
- Collaborate with Purchasing to identify alternative raw materials and qualify new ingredient suppliers.
- Review customer formulation requests and recommend ingredient substitutions when necessary due to availability, functionality, regulatory considerations, or cost.
- Participate in stability studies, shelf-life evaluations, and product performance testing.
- Ensure formulations comply with FDA regulations, current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs), and applicable dietary supplement requirements.
- Assist with specification development, Certificates of Analysis (COAs), and technical documentation as needed.
- Partner with Quality Assurance to investigate formulation-related deviations, customer complaints, and non-conformances.
- Stay current on emerging ingredients, formulation technologies, regulatory updates, and industry trends.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on quality, efficiency, and cost optimization.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nutrition, Chemical Engineering, or a related scientific discipline.
- 5-7 years of formulation or product development experience within the dietary supplement, or food manufacturing industry.
- Experience formulating one or more dosage forms, including powders and functional beverages.
- Working knowledge of ingredient functionality, excipients, flavor systems, sweeteners, flow agents, and manufacturing processes.
- Familiarity with FDA dietary supplement regulations, cGMPs (21 CFR Part 111 and 117), and labeling requirements.
- Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent project management and organizational abilities.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office; experience with ERP or formulation management software is preferred.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working in a contract manufacturing (co-packing) environment.
- Knowledge of botanical ingredients, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, sports nutrition, or functional ingredients.
- Experience supporting customer-facing formulation development projects.
- Familiarity with ingredient regulatory documentation, including Technical Data Sheets (TDS), COAs, and allergen documentation.
Pay: $95,000.00 - $115,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
