Product Development Manager

Black Girl Vitamins•Chicago, IL

9h•$95,000 - $110,000•Remote

About The Position

Black Girl Vitamins is a rapidly expanding wellness company, uniquely positioned as the first supplement brand tailored for Black women. Initially a direct-to-consumer model, the brand now serves its community through its website, Amazon, and Walmart, boasting a loyal subscription base. The company is entering a new phase focused on building a robust product pipeline that maintains customer trust through science-backed formulas designed for the specific health needs of Black women, developed with reliable partners. This role is crucial for ensuring every product aligns with these standards and merits its place on the customer's shelf.

Requirements

5 or more years of product development experience in dietary supplements, nutraceuticals, functional foods, consumer health, or related CPG categories, with a proven track record of taking products from concept to shelf.
Bachelor's degree in food science, nutrition, chemistry, biochemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, chemical engineering, or a related field.
Deep knowledge of supplement formulation, ingredient functionality, dosage forms, manufacturing, and testing.
Working knowledge of FDA dietary supplement regulations, labeling, structure/function claims, and GMP.
Direct, hands-on experience managing contract manufacturers, formulators, laboratories, ingredient suppliers, and packaging vendors.
Commercial thinking ability, connecting formulas to cost, margin, and consumer needs.
Strong documentation skills, attention to detail, and experience improving product development processes for growing brands.
Ability to remain steady when priorities change quickly.

Nice To Haves

Experience with clinically researched ingredients and third-party certification.
Experience in women's health, including hormonal, reproductive, metabolic, digestive, or healthy aging.
A personal connection to the Black Girl Vitamins community.

Responsibilities

Decide what products to develop by researching emerging ingredients, delivery formats, scientific studies, health trends, and competitor launches, translating findings into product concepts with clear consumer needs, scientific rationale, and commercial viability.
Write comprehensive product briefs that define target consumers, positioning, benefits, formula requirements, dosage format, claims, cost targets, and unique selling propositions for new products, reformulations, and line extensions.
Lead the formulation process, including ingredient selection, flavor and sensory development, and testing, collaborating directly with formulators, scientists, and laboratories.
Manage and select contract manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, and packaging vendors throughout the development process, ensuring adherence to quality, cost, and timing commitments.
Ensure all product claims are substantiated, labels comply with FDA dietary supplement regulations, and products meet GMP standards and any necessary third-party testing.
Prepare products for launch by working with the Product Launch Manager to clearly document specifications, lead times, and risks.
Establish repeatable product development processes by creating stage gates, templates, and documentation as the product portfolio expands.
Improve existing products by utilizing customer reviews, community feedback, and performance data.