NPD Head, Almaty

Vacancy due to production expansion (Carlsberg becomes a new partner of PepsiCo in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan)

Key resposibilities:

• New Product Strategy & Development
  • Lead NPD strategy, ensuring alignment with company goals and market trends, and drive innovation from ideation to commercialization.
  • Identify new product opportunities across categories, ensuring consumer needs and brand positioning align with market demand.
• NPD Gate-Stage Model & Innovation Boards
  • Implement and manage the NPD gate-stage model, ensuring systematic progression of ideas through development phases.
  • Lead the Innovation Board (IB) and Forward-Looking Innovation Board (FLIB) to identify and nurture future product opportunities, ensuring alignment with business and market trends.
  • Facilitate cross-functional collaboration at each gate stage, ensuring alignment on objectives, timelines, and resources.
• Develop business cases for new products, including financial models, market analysis, and ROI projections to ensure alignment with financial goals.
• Conduct market research and consumer analysis to identify trends, unmet needs, and competitor activities, using insights to guide product development.
• Leading R&D and Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Lead R&D in product innovation, ensuring products meet quality, cost, and regulatory standards.
  • Collaborate with Marketing, Sales, and Supply Chain to ensure smooth development, launch, and execution.
• Oversee the planning, development, and execution of multiple NPD projects, ensuring on-time, on-budget delivery, and addressing potential roadblocks.
• Lead post-launch performance tracking, using sales data, market reception, and consumer feedback to inform future product improvements.
• Lead product design and development to meet quality, cost, and regulatory standards, ensuring differentiation and alignment with brand values.
• Manage supplier and vendor relationships, ensuring timely delivery and product quality, and negotiate contracts that meet specifications and timelines.
• Develop go-to-market strategies for new products, aligning with sales and marketing teams, and monitor post-launch performance to collect feedback for improvements.
• Lead and mentor a team of 3 FTEs, fostering a culture of innovation and ensuring they have the resources and skills to succeed in NPD projects.
• Ensure new products meet sustainability goals and regulatory requirements, leading efforts to innovate with sustainable packaging and ingredients.
• Manage the product portfolio, identify opportunities for expansion, and actively participate in Pepsi & Lipton transformation projects, aligning with CBKZ’s product development strategy.

• Advanced project and team management
• Experience in the FMCG
• Experience in insights and R&D is essential
• A profound understanding of commercial functions
• A track record of successful launches from the ground up and post-launch analysis.
• English proficiency

• Competitive compensation package
• Modern office with a hybrid work schedule
• Continuous learning and opportunities for growth within the Carlsberg Group
• Unique experience working on large-scale projects, new product launches, and multiple beverage categories
• Experience collaborating with several major international companies
• Active and supportive team environment