Commercial Product Development Manager

Our client in the FMCG industry is seeking a talented Commercial Product Development Manager to join their team in Kuwait. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in commercial product development, with a focus on driving successful product launches and managing third-party manufacturing partnerships. This position offers the opportunity to lead innovative product initiatives and contribute to the strategic growth of the brand in a competitive market.

Responsibilities :

Commercial Product Development

Identify white spaces and growth opportunities for commercial products aligned with strategic goals.

Prepare and present Commercial Product Feasibility Forms capturing concept rationale, preliminary costings, and market potential.

Work closely with external manufacturers to develop, test, and finalize products for launch.

Collaborate with R&D, Quality, Supply Chain, Sales, and Marketing teams to ensure alignment across all functions.

Vendor Engagement & Management

Identify and assess suitable co-manufacturers or private label vendors.

Lead negotiations and ensure clarity on quality standards, IP rights, MOQ, lead times, and SLAs.

Monitor vendor performance, ensuring reliability, innovation, and compliance.

Internal Collaboration & Project Coordination

Act as project manager for all commercial product initiatives, using tools such as MS Project.

Lead periodic reviews with cross-functional stakeholders to track development, timelines, and decision gates.

Coordinate closely with Finance, Legal, and Procurement on contracts, IP, and landed cost calculations.

Marketing Integration

Translate consumer insights into viable commercial product ideas.

Collaborate with Brand and Trade Marketing teams to position and support the product effectively in the market.

Support packaging development, storytelling, and claim substantiation efforts for new products.

Logistics & Cost Optimization

Work with the Supply Chain team to map logistics scenarios, including cost-to-land models, shelf-life implications, and warehousing needs.

Explore and recommend optimal sourcing geographies or vendor clusters to reduce lead time and logistics risk.

Requirements :

Bachelors degree in Business, Marketing, Food Technology, or Supply Chain; MBA preferred.

Minimum 8 years of experience in commercial product development in the FMCG/Food industry, ideally with experience in co-manufacturing or private label management.

Demonstrable experience in launching successful products through third-party partnerships.

Deep understanding of the commercial product lifecycle.

Strong vendor management and negotiation skills.

Working knowledge of intellectual property rights and product ownership clauses.

Familiarity with cost modeling, including landed cost components.

Project management expertise with the use of modern collaboration tools.

Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to bridge Marketing, R&D, and Supply Chain.

Consumer-focused with a strategic mindset and marketing flair.