Product Development Specialist

Product Development Specialist

• Employment type: Full-time, permanent (exempt)
• Department: Product Development
• Location: Novi, MI - on-site / hybrid

Job Summary

National Food Group is seeking an innovative and driven Product Development Specialist to join our Product Development team in a full-time, permanent role.

This is an exciting opportunity to own the development and launch of food products that serve K-12 students across the country. You will lead assigned line extensions and new products from concept through commercialization, working closely with manufacturing partners, suppliers, and internal stakeholders to bring new ideas to life and continuously improve our existing portfolio. You will also be the dedicated product development partner for our Food Distribution business.

The ideal candidate is passionate about food innovation, curious about consumer and market trends, and energized by turning insights into commercially successful products. You'll leverage industry research, customer feedback, and market data to identify growth opportunities and develop products that meet the evolving needs of school nutrition programs.

Success in this role requires ownership, strong collaboration skills, attention to detail, and the ability to navigate the technical and operational challenges of product commercialization across multiple manufacturing environments. If you enjoy solving problems, building relationships, and making a meaningful impact through food innovation, we'd love to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities

• Own assigned line extensions and selected new products for our Zee Zees brand from concept through commercialization and post-launch follow-up.
• Lead formula and flavor development with manufacturing partners, including benchtop sample creation and sensory evaluation.
• Plan, coordinate, and lead plant trials and scale-up with manufacturing partners to support commercialization and continuous improvement.
• Serve as the dedicated product development resource for the Food Distribution business, including product evaluations, parity testing, costing, recipe development, and co-manufacturer projects.
• Identify and evaluate ingredients, alternate suppliers, and manufacturing partners, and recommend reformulation opportunities that support innovation, margin, and supply continuity.
• Validate product claims and ensure products meet K-12 nutrition requirements, including USDA meal pattern and Smart Snacks standards, in partnership with cross-functional teams.
• Maintain specifications and documentation for owned products, and update existing products to accommodate label changes, regulatory updates, and business requirements.
• Partner with Sales, Quality, Purchasing, and Operations to prioritize projects and accelerate speed-to-market.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Dietetics, or a related field.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in food product development.
• Hands-on experience working with food manufacturers and/or co-manufacturing partners, including plant trials, scale-up activities, and commercialization.
• Experience independently leading retail and/or foodservice products from concept through commercialization.
• Experience troubleshooting formulation, processing, or manufacturing challenges during product development and commercialization.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with exceptional attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to own and lead projects independently while collaborating effectively across multiple departments.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
• Effective conflict resolution and relationship management skills.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

What We''re Looking For

• A creative thinker who can identify emerging trends and uncover opportunities for innovation.
• Someone ready to take ownership of projects and see them through to launch.
• Someone who is open to learning, coaching, and continuous professional growth.
• A self-starter with a strong work ethic and a results-driven mindset.
• An individual who thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and embraces change.

We love when our team members are happy and healthy! At National Food Group, you'll have the following benefits and perks:

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision care insurance
• Group life & voluntary life insurance
• 401(k) savings plan
• Flexible spending account
• Short-term & long-term disability
• PTO & PTO buy up
• Tuition reimbursement
• Wellness reimbursement

Work environment:

Primarily works in a temperature-controlled office environment. Travel to manufacturing facilities is required for plant trials, which involves working on production floors, wearing required personal protective equipment, standing for extended periods, and exposure to varying temperatures and noise levels.

This job requires the ability to perform duties contained in the job description for this position, including, but not limited to, the above requirements. Reasonable accommodations will be made to fulfill these requirements.

The above statements generally describe the principal and essential functions of the job but should not be construed as a detailed description of all essential functions that may be inherent in the job.

Equal Employment Opportunity

National Food Group is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

• Please also include your salary requirements when submitting your resume.