Senior Manager: R&D, Powders Portfolio
Brand: Little Joys | Function: R&D | Location: Mumbai
About the Role
Little Joys, Mosaic Wellness kids nutrition and wellness brand, is looking for a Senior Manager to own the R&D charter for the Nutrimix powders portfolio. This role will lead formulation development, portfolio expansion, and quality/regulatory stewardship for a category central to the brand's growth, working cross-functionally with marketing, supply chain, and CDMO/CRO partners.
Key Responsibilities
Product Development & Innovation
- Own end-to-end NPD for Nutrimix powders — from concept to commercialization — including protein blends, growth nutrition mixes, and functional powder formats for children
- Lead formulation optimization for taste masking, solubility, nutrient stability, and sensory acceptability in pediatric powder systems
- Drive ingredient innovation (proteins, micronutrient premixes, prebiotics/probiotics, natural sweeteners) relevant to children's nutrition
- Build and manage a pipeline of new launches and renovations aligned to brand and category strategy
Regulatory & Quality
- Ensure FSSAI compliance for all powder formulations, including nutrient claims, fortification norms, and labeling requirements specific to children's food products
- Manage stability studies, shelf-life validation, and finished goods specifications for the portfolio
- Lead quality audits and documentation for CDMO manufacturing partners
CDMO & Vendor Management
- Identify, evaluate, and onboard CDMO partners for powder manufacturing, including technology transfer and scale-up
- Manage vendor performance frameworks and troubleshoot manufacturing/quality issues
Cross-functional Collaboration
- Partner with Marketing on claims substantiation, clinical/consumer study design, and communication of product benefits
- Work with Supply Chain on sourcing, cost optimization, and capacity planning
- Support business development in evaluating category expansion opportunities (e.g., new formats, adjacent age groups)
Requirements
Experience
- 8–12 years in R&D/formulation roles within food, nutraceuticals, or infant/children's nutrition (CPG or pharma-adjacent preferred)
- Proven track record of taking powder/beverage-mix products from concept to market
- Experience with FSSAI regulatory frameworks; exposure to AYUSH or international standards (GCC, US FDA) a plus
- CDMO management experience essential
Education
- M.Sc./M.Tech in Food Technology, Food Science, Nutrition, or related discipline (PhD a plus)
Skills
- Strong formulation science background, particularly in dry-mix/powder systems
- Working knowledge of regulatory and labeling norms for children's nutrition products
- Project management and cross-functional stakeholder management
- Data-driven approach to sensory, stability, and clinical study design
