Category Development Specialist

Summary
The Category Development Specialist is responsible for driving innovation and growth through the development and commercialization of fabricated meat products and boxed meat.

Key Responsibilities

1. Identify and prioritize new product opportunities based on market trends, customer needs, and competitive insights.
2. Build and manage a strong innovation pipeline aligned with category growth objectives.
3. Lead end-to-end product development, including concept creation, product specifications, costing, sourcing, and commercialization.
4. Collaborate with Production and Supply Chain teams to ensure product feasibility, yield optimization, and consistent quality.
5. Develop pricing strategies and margin structures to meet profitability targets.
6. Conduct product testing, customer validation, and pilot runs prior to full-scale launch.
7. Drive on-time and in-full execution of product launches, including volume planning and readiness across functions.
8. Partner with Sales and Marketing teams to define product positioning, value proposition, and go-to-market strategy.
9. Monitor post-launch performance and implement improvements based on data and customer feedback.
10. Ensure all products meet food safety, regulatory, and quality standards.
11. Continuously optimize the product portfolio (expand, improve, or rationalize SKUs).

Key Focus Areas

1. Fabricated and Beef category products.
2. Costing, yield optimization, and margin management.
3. Customer-driven innovation (food service, distributors, retail).
4. Speed, execution excellence, and scalability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Technology, Business, Marketing, or a related field.
• Experience in meat processing, food manufacturing, or FMCG product development.
• Strong background in product costing, pricing, and supply chain coordination.
• Proven experience in new product development and commercialization.
• Strong analytical, project management, and stakeholder management skills.