Product Development & Sourcing Manager - Food & Beverage / FMCG

Company: Lion & Child Ventures

Location: Bandra, Mumbai

Job Type: Full-time | On-site

Experience: 3-7 years

About Us

Lion & Child Ventures is a recent consumer products company focused on identifying, developing and launching innovative consumer brands.

We're building a portfolio of distinctive products across food, beverages, functional nutrition and emerging consumer categories, combining product innovation, strong branding and strategic manufacturing partnerships.

We're looking for an entrepreneurial, hands-on Product Development & Sourcing Manager who can turn ideas into commercially viable, market-ready products.

Key Responsibilities

Product Research & Development

- Research emerging consumer trends and identify new opportunities across food, beverages, snacks and functional nutrition.
- Work with food technologists, formulation specialists and manufacturers to develop new products.
- Lead product sampling, prototyping, taste testing and formulation improvements.
- Evaluate ingredients, nutritional profiles, packaging, shelf life and product quality.
- Take ownership of the product development process from initial concept through commercial production.

Manufacturing & Supplier Sourcing

- Identify, evaluate and onboard contract manufacturers, co-packers and ingredient suppliers.
- Explore private-label, white-label and custom manufacturing opportunities.
- Build relationships with manufacturing partners capable of developing and producing new consumer products.
- Negotiate supplier pricing, minimum order quantities (MOQs), development costs, lead times and commercial terms.
- Coordinate factory visits, production trials,



sampling and quality checks.

Commercial & Operational Execution

- Develop product costing, unit economics and margin analyses.
- Assess manufacturing feasibility, scalability and commercial viability of new product ideas.
- Coordinate packaging development, production timelines and inventory planning.
- Work with manufacturers and regulatory specialists to ensure compliance with applicable food safety and quality standards, including FSSAI requirements.
- Manage multiple product development projects simultaneously, ensuring timely execution from concept to launch.

Who We're Looking For

- 3–7 years of relevant experience in food and beverage product development, FMCG, contract manufacturing or product sourcing.
- Hands-on experience taking at least one packaged food or beverage product from concept through sampling, manufacturer selection and commercial production.
- Strong understanding of food manufacturing processes, ingredient sourcing, packaging and product costing.
- Experience working directly with contract manufacturers, co-packers or food formulation specialists.
- Existing relationships with food manufacturers and ingredient suppliers are highly desirable.
- Familiarity with product formulation, shelf-life testing, quality control and food safety regulations.
- Strong negotiation,



vendor management and project management skills.
- Commercially minded, resourceful and comfortable working independently in an early-stage company.
- A genuine interest in consumer products, food innovation and building new brands from scratch.

Additional Advantages

- Experience in functional foods, protein products, healthy snacks or innovative packaged foods.
- Experience working across multiple food and beverage categories.
- Exposure to private-label manufacturing or new product development for emerging consumer brands.

Why Join Lion & Child Ventures?

This is an opportunity to join a new consumer products venture at the ground floor and play a meaningful role in shaping its product portfolio.

You'll work directly with the founder, explore new product categories, establish manufacturing partnerships and help bring entirely new consumer products to market.

Unlike roles focused on managing established product lines, this position offers the opportunity to build products and processes from scratch, take ownership of meaningful projects and grow alongside the business.

We're looking for someone who is curious, entrepreneurial, proactive and excited by the challenge of turning an idea into a finished product.

Compensation: Competitive, based on experience and capabilities.

How to Apply

Please submit your CV along with a brief description of one or more food or beverage product you've personally helped develop and bring to commercial production.

We'd particularly like to understand your role in product development, manufacturer selection, sampling, costing and production.

📌 Food and Beverage Specialist (Mumbai)
🏢 Lion and Child
📍 Mumbai