Product Developer (On-Site)

Lief Labs is a premier formulation and product development innovator and manufacturer of dietary supplements. Our in-house Product Development and R&D team creates the best-tasting and most cutting-edge formulations of supplements. Lief also houses a state-of-the-art, full-service Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) manufacturing facility, which offers custom solutions for many supplement categories. Lief collaborates with entrepreneurial firms to help them build premier brands. Our turnkey solutions allow us to engage in seamless partnerships that help brands with scalability and sustainable growth. Lief Labs is in the Santa Clarita Valley (Valencia, CA.) All roles are on-site Monday – Friday.

Summary

The Product Developer is a critical client-facing individual who will be involved in key areas of the product development ideation process. Understands and outlines customer expectations and requests to internal Lief team members. Manages project quotes, raw material sourcing, documentation analysis, concept evaluation, and follow-through of new product development timelines. Will play a key role in innovation by introducing new ingredients, product concepts, latest nutritional ingredient research and leveraging key market trends. This role is passionate about consumer wellness and product development, has a strong understanding of the dietary supplement nutrition industry, and possesses excellent communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Works with clients and internal sales team to develop, ideate, and conceptualize new and existing product formulations.
• Works directly with sales as a client-facing individual to provide technical expertise, knowledge on formulations, product concepts, and commercialization of products.
• Envisions, conceptualizes, and develops new product formulas, categories, delivery systems, and novel ingredients for the sports nutrition, health, wellness, and beauty markets.
• Builds, develops, and maintains a solid regulatory knowledge base on dietary supplements and nutrition.
• Brings innovative and differentiated products from concept to market that support our core customers’ vision/goals.
• Stays up to date, identifies industry trends, and drives innovation of product concepts, formulations, and ingredients to help orchestrate the company’s competitive edge.
• Effectively communicate client and/or sales expectations to the internal project management team and ensure all project expectations are vetted and accomplished.
• Completes and oversees product price quotations to ensure accuracy and identifies, manages, and mitigates all company risks, including inefficient inventory usage, manufacturing inefficiencies, optimal margin, price point, etc.
• Manages efficient quoting and formulations to maximize product performance, industry standards, and price/margin optimization for clients and Lief.
• Adheres to a robust formula and quoting change control process to support clients and
• Lief business practices.
• Manages client expectations through the creation and management of finished product specifications that align with company SOPs/Government regulatory standards
• Meets and builds relationships with raw material and packaging suppliers to stay abreast of new developments to be first to market and/or early adopters of trends.
• Conducts ingredient research/literature reviews to identify novel ingredients and formats to explore/evaluate for product feasibility.
• Provides scientific support on marketing campaigns, landing pages, and other customer-facing literature.
• Collaborates with Compliance and Legal to stay abreast of regulatory changes and requirements, including ingredient regulations and international regulatory standards.
• Participates in product development innovation meetings/activities such as presenting new products and reworking formulas and components.
• Brainstorm new ideas and bring insights on upcoming trends and innovation.
• Collaborates with purchasing on COGS targets from vendors, estimated forecasts, and MOQs.
• Practices a continuous improvement philosophy.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

none

Minimum Qualifications:

Education:

Bachelor's or advanced degree in Chemistry, Food Science, or related field. An advanced degree is a plus.

Experience:

• 7+ years of experience working in product development, R&D, and/or regulatory affairs within the functional foods, supplements, drug, or skincare industry.
• Requires a solid understanding of product development fundamentals, expertise in health, wellness, and beauty, and the ability to apply strategic thinking throughout ideation and conceptualization.
• Structure-function claims and claims substantiation expertise.
• Working knowledge of clinical study framework related to the dietary supplement industry.
• Able to work in a fast-paced environment as an independent contributor and collaboratively as a team member.
• Highly knowledgeable about wellness trends in nutrition and supplements.
• Demonstrated strong knowledge of product technical formulation.
• Demonstrated project management skills and knowledge of new product development lifecycle.

Skills/ Abilities

• Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to communicate complex information clearly and concisely.
• Excellent organizational and leadership skills, with the ability to motivate and guide cross-functional teams.
• Problem-Solving: Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to think critically in resolving customer issues.
• Teamwork: Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams to achieve common goals.
• Attention to Detail: High attention to detail to ensure accuracy in order processing and customer interactions.
• Adaptability: Ability to adapt to a dynamic and fast-paced work environment.
• Planning & organizing.
• Ability to interact at all levels.

Work Environment

The office is clean, orderly, adequately lighted, and ventilated. Noise levels are considered low to moderate. Field conditions vary.

Exposed to various raw materials, including allergens (i.e. milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nut, peanuts, wheat, soy).

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to bend, crawl, sit, talk, move about, hear, and speak. It may be needed to work in restricted spaces and/or under different lighting and access conditions.

The employee must be able to grasp, lift, and/or move items over 40 pounds.

Must be able to work independently, in a team environment, and drive projects to solutions.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The employee must properly use such safety equipment as is appropriate to the work to prevent injury to self or others.

Additional Information
The Salary Range for this position at Lief Labs is $90k - $120k (USD). Starting pay for the successful applicant depends on a variety of job-related factors, including but not limited to market demands, experience, training, skills, and education. The benefits available for this position include medical, dental, vision, 401(k) plan, life insurance coverage, wellness benefits, education reimbursement program, and PTO. This position is bonus-eligible.

Lief is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, or sex, including sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request an accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career center due to your disability. To request an accommodation, contact the Lief Human Resources department.

Lief will consider employment-qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.

Lief uses E-Verify to confirm work eligibility in the United States. E-Verify compares the information on your Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to official government records.