Head - Product - FoodTech Segment

One of our clients are launching a green field project in food tech segment and are looking at Product Specialists with 10-20 years of experience

Summary:

Incumbent will be responsible for overseeing the entire product development lifecycle including ideation, conceptualization, design, development, testing, and launch of innovative products. The role requires a combination of engineering expertise, commercial skills and leadership qualities to drive cross-functional teams and deliver high-quality products to optimize Time-to-Market and Costs.

Detailed job description:

- Lead and manage end-to-end product life cycle from ideation, conceptualization, designing, engineering, validation and launching of new products

- Undertake product development initiatives for:

o Increasing product capacities to achieve Product-Market fit

o Cost optimization to meet target cost objectives

o Improvise product throughput and efficiency

- Work in collaboration with:

o Sales team to drive changes in product features basis feedback from market/customer

o Technology team to optimize the technology

- Pursue long term plans for developing Continuous Processing equipment

- Build, direct and supervise design & engineering team with domain expertise in the areas of blending (reactor technology), material movement, fabrication, drying, cooling, Internet of Things etc.

- Develop a quality policy and establish quality standards, including getting appropriate quality certifications from external/regulatory bodies

Vendor development

- Identify & develop fabrication vendors, basis identified parameters and quality benchmarks, for equipment manufacturing

- Work in close collaboration with vendors to:

o Achieve manufacturing and delivery lead times and reduce Time-to-Market

o Optimize design and cost, including cost of outsourced components

o Improvise product quality and efficiency

- Manage vendors' relationships to evolve them as long-term strategic partners.

Installation & Commissioning:

- Build, direct and supervise a team of Installation and Commissioning

- Develop appropriate SOPs to ensure quality & efficiency in installation & commissioning of equipment.

Operation & Maintenance:

- Design maintenance schedule for the equipment during the warranty and out-of-warranty period

- Build, direct and supervise a team for Operation & Maintenance of equipment

- Building and implement adequate training modules to impart training on the equipment to the internal team as well as to the customers

- Design & develop 'Product manuals and SOPs', for use by the Customers

- Collaborate with Sales team to develop revenue stream of Annual Maintenance

- Set up customer service department to receive and address customers' complaints and collaborate with external vendors and component suppliers to provide seamless and prompt customer service.

Leadership & Commercial role:

- Keep a tab on market and competitive trends and customer needs and plug these inputs in product roadmap.

- Lead and inspire a multidisciplinary team of product managers, engineers, designers, and other professionals.

- Foster a collaborative and innovative work environment to drive creativity and efficiency.

- Manage budgeting and resource allocation for product development projects.

- Collaborate with cross-functional teams including marketing, sales, and customer support to gather insights and ensure a seamless product launch.

Qualification:

- Mechanical Engineering (B. Tech/M. Tech) from Tier I/II Institute

- MBA in Product Development would be added qualification.

Experience:

- 10-12 years of strong experience in Product Development.

- Proven experience of having led Product Life Cycles from ideation to launch. [Added advantage if the candidate is able to exhibit application of Design Thinking and First Principle thinking].