Associate Product Development Manager, Brand Maintenance

Ocean Spray is hiring for a(n) Associate Product Development Manager, Brand Maintenance! We’re a team of farmers, thinkers, creators, and doers. Whatever your title, whatever your role — it always comes back to this: we’re a farmer-owned co-op where everyone rolls up their sleeves to get the job done. Three maverick farmers started it all — and we’ve been making our own way ever since. 

The Associate Product Development Manager, Brand Maintenance, supports the ongoing optimization and compliance of existing beverage product lines within Ocean Spray’s portfolio with the goal of risk mitigation, cost savings, manufacturing efficiency, qualification of alternative ingredient suppliers and business continuity. The role requires cross-functional collaboration to execute formula adjustments and cost-saving initiatives while maintaining brand integrity, consumer liking, food safety and regulatory standards. This role combines technical product knowledge with project coordination to ensure products remain competitive and aligned with evolving market needs. The candidate must have a passion for formula optimization and supporting bottom-line growth. Given the nature of the responsibilities, this role is designed to be in the Lakeville, MA office five days per week.

A Day in the Life...

• Assist in managing existing beverage product lines, ensuring they remain competitive, compliant, and aligned with brand standards throughout their lifecycle.
• Lead minor product updates and formula optimizations to deliver cost optimization and/or react to ingredient supply constraints while maintaining expected consumer experience and brand consistency.
• Guide team through our Technical Stage Gate process, from Ideation through Launch, ensuring sufficient technical and project management rigor is effectively incorporated into project plans.  Guide development of robust learning plans for all commercialization projects.
• Strong understanding of Food and Beverage ingredients to identify potential alternatives.
• Work closely with R&D, Sensory, marketing, regulatory, internal and external supply chain, food safety and quality teams to implement product changes and resolve issues efficiently.
• Track and analyze product performance metrics, consumer feedback, and market trends to identify opportunities for improvement or cost optimization.
• Maintain accurate product documentation in PLM-DEVEX, including formulas, specifications, and change logs, ensuring compliance with internal and external standards.
• Ensure all brand maintenance activities meet consumer, regulatory requirements, food safety and internal quality standards, coordinating with legal and QA teams as needed.
• Participate in value engineering and cost-reduction initiatives while preserving product integrity and brand equity in collaboration with key business partners
• Facilitate the execution of product changes through established production change control processes, including communication with internal stakeholders and external partners.
• Support initiatives aimed at improving product sustainability, such as packaging reduction, ingredient sourcing, or waste minimization to ensure product delivers against consumer expectations and commercial shelf-life requirements
• Offer insights and recommendations during annual planning cycles to help shape brand maintenance priorities and resource allocation.

What We Are Looking For:

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in food science, advanced degrees or certifications (e.g., PMP, Six Sigma) are a plus.
• Ability to manage multiple product updates and timelines efficiently.
• Strong collaboration skills to work with R&D, marketing, FSQA, regulatory, and supply chain teams.
• Capable of interpreting performance data, consumer feedback, and cost metrics to guide decisions.
• Precision in managing product specifications, documentation, and compliance requirements.
• Resourceful in resolving product issues and implementing improvements.
• Understanding of food science, packaging, and manufacturing processes.
• Familiarity with FDA, USDA, or other relevant regulatory bodies and standards.
• Experience with PLM systems, Microsoft Office Suite, and data analysis tools.
• Note that this role is on-site, due to significant laboratory and pilot-plant work
• Food Science, Food Engineering, biochemistry, chemistry or related field.
• 7+ years overall work experience
• 5+ years’ experience in Food and Beverage CPG Industry
• 4+ years’ product development experience – benchtop to commercialization.
• 3+ years’ beverage formulation experience

Education:

Bachelor's or University Degree (Required) Master's Degree (Preferred)

Work Experience: