HEAD OF PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AND DIVERSIFICATION - ONE (1) POSITIONReporting to the Group General Manager-Research, Development and Innovation, the successful candidate will be responsible for leading KTDA's strategy for new product development, research, and diversification to reduce over-reliance on bulk orthodox and black CTC tea. The Head of NPD will drive development of new value-added tea products, alternative beverages, and non-tea products to improve farmer earnings, expand market access, and position KTDA as a global leader in diversified agricultural products.
Duties and Responsibilitiesa) Developing and implementing KTDA's New Product Development research and Diversification strategy aligned to corporate goals and Tea Industry Act;
b) Leading the NPD Research, and Diversification teams to deliver a pipeline of commercially viable products;
c) Providing market and consumer insights to Senior Management for investment decisions;
d) Liaising with research institutions, Government Agencies and other related private institutions in executing NPD strategies;
e) Participating in review and formulation of new inputs, technologies and products in KTDA through research;
f) Reviewing and recommending for adoption of specifications for key inputs, processes and equipment;
g) Planning and coordinating New Product Development projects/strategic initiatives;
h) Identifying training tools to enhance employee performance and skill development;
i) Documenting all phases of new product development;
j) Monitoring, evaluating New Product Development projects and ensuring effective utilization of resources;
k) Identifying market trends, consumer needs, and white spaces in tea, herbal infusions, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, and other agricultural value chains;
l) Overseeing concept development, product formulation, pilot testing, sensory evaluation, and commercial launch of new KTDA products;
m) Managing end-to-end process: ideation -> R&D -> regulatory approval -> branding -> market testing -> scale-up;
n) Ensuring all new products meet Tea Board, KEBS, FDA, EU, and other export market standards;
o) Leading product, market, and agronomic research in partnership with TRFK, universities, and private labs;
p) Driving research innovation in processing technologies, packaging, shelf-life extension, and sustainability in collaborations with relevant SBUs;
q) Coordinating KTDA's product tests at the lab and manage associated budget and ensuring IP protection through patents and trademarks with KIPI;
r) Supporting factories in adoption of new processing lines for diversified products;
s) Disseminating NPD research findings to the end users;
t) Exploring and launching diversification into allied products: specialty teas, ready-to-drink, tea extracts, tea-based foods, bio-products, and carbon/tea by-products;
u) Building business cases for new ventures and JV partnerships;
v) Working with Marketing, Sales, and Factory Operations to ensure smooth handover from R&D to commercialization;
w) Tracking product P&L and ensuring ROI targets are met;
x) Preparing timely and accurate report and distributing to appropriate users
Qualifications / Skills / Experienceo Education: Master's degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Agricultural Economics, Chemistry, or Business.
o Professional: Membership to relevant professional body e.g. KIFST, ICPAK.
o Experience: Minimum 8-10 years' experience, with at least 5 years in a senior NPD/R&D leadership role in FMCG, beverages, or agro-processing. Tea industry experience preferred.
o Proven track record of launching at least 3 successful new products in the last 5 years.
o Technical: Deep knowledge of tea chemistry, product formulation, sensory science, food safety and regulatory affairs.
o Strategic: Market research, trend forecasting, business modeling, and portfolio management.
o Leadership: Team management, cross-functional collaboration, project management, budget oversight.
o Commercial: Brand positioning, pricing strategy, and go-to-market planning.
o Data-driven decision making, innovation mindset, strong presentation and negotiation skills.
