[Hiring] Head of Product - Food Engineering @Nordic by Nature

Operating fully remotely, we value creativity, collaboration, and innovation in all we do. We are currently seeking a Head of Product to lead our New Product Development (NPD) and product portfolio strategy, ensuring our products are at the forefront of the market as well as managing the team involved in this process.

As the Head of Product at AAVALABS, you will be responsible for leading the NPD team & overseeing the full cycle of product development and continuous improvement. This includes ensuring our current portfolio maintains the highest quality and stays relevant, while also driving innovation by creating new products aligned with market trends and the brand’s vision. You will work cross-functionally with internal teams and manage relationships with external partners, including Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMOs) and suppliers, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. Additionally, you will support the operations department in analyzing and improving supplier relationships to optimize costs (COGS) and maintain high-quality standards.

1. New Product Development (NPD):

   • Lead the ideation, formulation, and launch of new products from concept to market.

   • Drive continuous improvement of the NPD process and maintain alignment with the company’s growth strategy.

   • Utilize data analytics to guide product development, optimize product performance, and respond to market trends. Data driven approach, making use of systems such as Helium 10 in order to conduct product research and validation.

2. Product Portfolio Strategy:

   • Develop and implement a product roadmap aligned with market trends, customer demands, and brand vision.

   • Sharing and championing strategy with the leadership team  and parent company.
     
     

3. Manage the product development team

   • Managing, training and building the NPD Team

4. Assist/ Support with Quality Control & Assurance (QC & QA):

   • Assisting when necessary the team managing the quality control process for product batches and ensure compliance with all EU regulations 

   • Work with manufacturers to resolve any issues and guarantee high-quality standards are met.

5. Supplier & CMO Management:

   • Identify new suppliers and maintain strong relationships with Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMOs).

   • Manage the sourcing of new raw materials to optimize COGS while maintaining product quality.

   • Continuously explore and source new suppliers and raw materials to ensure the highest quality and cost-efficiency.

   • Maintain an up-to-date database of suppliers and raw material options for current and future products.

6. Support Sales, Marketing & Operations departments:

   • Collaborate with the Marketing and Sales teams with ingredient-specific selling propositions and product insights. 

   • Assist the Operations team with contract negotiations and the manufacturer quotation process.

7. Technical Customer Service support

   • Support the CS team as a product expert with any questions about our portfolio

8. Travel to visit suppliers (current and future) and attend industry events as needed in order to make sure we have the latest information and maintain a good relationship with our suppliers. 

• Education:

  • MSc or BSc in Nutrition, Food Science or a related field.

• Industry Expertise:

  • Prior experience working in the food industry in a product development role is essential

  • Proven experience in developing products within the food supplement or sports nutrition industries would be ideal. 

  • Deep understanding of food manufacturing processes and EU legislation

• Supplier & CMO Management:

  • Experience managing relationships with CMOs and suppliers to ensure high production standards and timely resolution of issues.

• Data Analytics:

  • Ideally you have Knowledge of leveraging data analytics to make informed product decisions and optimize product performance. Familiarity with product lifecycle management for e-commerce platforms like Helium 10, Jungle Scout or Similar 

• Excellent English Communication:

  • Fluency in both written and verbal English is essential for cross-functional collaboration.

• Detail-Oriented & Regulatory Focused:

  • Strong attention to detail, particularly in ensuring compliance with regulatory and quality standards.

• Proactive & Self-Driven:

  • Able to take initiative and work independently in a fully remote environment, managing multiple projects simultaneously.

• Analytical Thinking:

  • Ability to use data to drive product development and decision-making.

• Able to challenge and propose solutions

  • We are looking for someone who is able to create the future of our portfolio even if that means going out of the established and suggesting new ideas. As long as there is a reasoning behind it, we are looking for challengers.

• Team Collaboration:

  • Effective in working closely with teams across the company, including Marketing, Operations, and Quality Control.

• Follow-Through on Commitments:

  • Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and ensure tasks are completed to a high standard.

• EU-based:
  Candidates must be based in the EU and be available for occasional travel to visit suppliers, manufacturers, and partners.

• 100% Remote Work:
  Enjoy the flexibility of working from anywhere in the world with a dynamic, fully remote team.

• Travel Opportunities:
  Travel to visit suppliers and manufacturers as part of your role.

• Innovative & Passionate Team:
  Work with a passionate team in a company that values creativity, innovation, and collaboration. Not many companies have 4.7 out of 5 in Glassdoor

• Free products!

This Recruitment process will consist off 4 steps, being a written exercise one of them

If you’re a proactive, strategic thinker with experience in product development within the food industries, and you’re excited about driving innovation in a fully remote environment, we’d love to hear from you!