Senior Product Development Manager

WHO ARE WE?

We are the VMS Co-Op, a group of fast growing companies in the Vitamins, Minerals and Supplements (VMS) space. The VMS Co-Op includes OLLY, SmartyPants and future acquisitions to come! This position's home company is OLLY.​

THE ROLE: SENIOR PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

The Senior Product Development Manager is a senior-level individual contributor and people leader within the OLLY organization. This role owns end-to-end technical delivery of new product development (NPD) and lifecycle management initiatives, leading complex projects across multiple dosage forms from concept through commercialization. The role partners closely with cross-functional teams including Brand, Innovation, Technical Services, and Quality/Regulatory teams to deliver high-quality, compliant products that meet consumer, business, and timeline expectations. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES  

Product Development Leadership 

• Independently lead multiple, complex product development programs across various dosage formats from technical brief through scale-up and commercial production. 
• Serve as the primary technical owner and decision-maker for assigned projects, ensuring delivery of milestones on time, within scope, and aligned with business objectives. 
• Develop, maintain, and strengthen effective working relationships with contract manufacturers, vendors, suppliers, and key internal partners to ensure successful technical execution and long-term collaboration. 
• Provide hands-on technical leadership to co-manufacturers, proactively troubleshooting formulation, processing, and scale-up challenges. 
• Operates with a high degree of autonomy, setting technical direction and influencing prioritization across projects. 
• Applies strategic problem-solving skills to complex, ambiguous challenges and proposes scalable solutions. 
• Demonstrates strong cross-functional leadership and communication, translating complex technical topics into clear, actionable insights.
• Models company values, provides constructive feedback, and supports team capability development through informal mentorship and collaboration. 

CrossFunctional Collaboration 

• Partner closely with Quality and Regulatory teams to ensure products meet all applicable CFR, GMP, and internal quality standards throughout the product lifecycle. 
• Collaborate with Brand, Innovation, and Marketing partners on sensory development, product optimization, and consumer testing initiatives. 
• Work with Operations and Supply Chain to support technical transfers, secondary sourcing, and continuous improvement initiatives. 

Technical Documentation & Compliance 

• Lead development and approval of technical documentation including product briefs, specifications, formulas, stability protocols, and commercialization documentation. 
• Manage stability programs including protocol creation, sample coordination, data review, and trend analysis. 
• Identify and mitigate technical and execution risks through proactive planning and solution development. 

Continuous Improvement & Innovation 

• Drive continuous product improvement initiatives related to quality, cost optimization, performance, and consumer experience. 
• Proactively identify opportunities for process improvement, innovation, and technical capability building across the product portfolio. 

CAPABILITIES + SKILLS REQUIRED  

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Biology, Engineering, or a related scientific discipline (advanced degree a plus). 
• 6–9+ years of experience in dietary supplement and/or food product development with a proven track record of successful product launches. 
• Deep technical expertise across formulation,