Job Title: Director, Research and DevelopmentWork Location: Fairfield
Division/Department: Marketing
Reports to: Vice President, Marketing and R&D
Status: Full-time | Exempt
Position SummaryAt Bigelow Tea, product is at the heart of everything we do. The Director of Product Development will lead how we bring that commitment to life, evolving our core tea offerings while helping expand into new usage occasions and consumers.
This role is responsible for turning ideas into exceptional products, grounded in strong formulation, deep manufacturing understanding, and a relentless focus on quality. Working closely with Marketing, this leader will provide critical product and technical input to shape innovation, while owning the
development and scale-up of products.
Equally important, this person will build and lead a team that operates with curiosity, accountability, and pride in craft.
Key ResponsibilitiesProduct Development- Lead the development of new and existing products from concept through scale-up, ensuring they meet Bigelow's high standards for quality, taste, and consistency
- Translate innovation briefs into well-developed, technically sound products
- Provide practical, experience-based input into product concepts based on feasibility, ingredients, and performance
- Ensure every product reflects the Bigelow brand-thoughtful, high-quality, and consumer-focused
Core Product Craft & Optimization- Continuously elevate the quality and performance of Bigelow's core tea bag portfolio
- Lead improvements in flavor consistency, ingredient quality, and packaging performance
- Identify opportunities to enhance value while protecting the integrity of the product
- Bring a hands-on, detail-oriented approach to product excellence
Manufacturing & Scale-Up- Bring deep manufacturing knowledge into product development decisions from the start
- Lead scale-up from bench to production, ensuring products are reliable and repeatable
- Partner closely with internal operations and external co-packers to develop products that work in real-world conditions
- Lead plant trials and solve problems proactively to ensure strong outcomes
Team Leadership- Build, coach, and develop a team of product developers, many early in their careers
- Create an environment where people feel ownership of their work and pride in the outcome
- Encourage curiosity, experimentation, and continuous improvement
- Set clear expectations and hold the team accountable to high standards
Ways of Working- Establish clear, effective approaches to product development that balance creativity with discipline
- Bring structure and clarity to how work gets done-without slowing momentum
- Ensure strong execution across multiple projects, with clear ownership and follow-through
Partnership Across the Business- Work closely with Marketing to provide product insight and feasibility input as ideas are shaped
- Partner with Supply Chain, Quality, and Regulatory to ensure products are developed responsibly and effectively
- Act as the bridge between concept and product reality
QualificationsEducation- Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Engineering, or related field
- Advanced degree preferred
Experience- 10-15+ years in product development within CPG, ideally in beverages or adjacent categories
- Strong track record of developing and improving products in manufacturing-driven environments
- Experience working with both internal manufacturing teams and co-packers
- Experience in tea, coffee, or similar categories preferred
What Sets You Apart- You bring both craft and practicality-you care deeply about the product and know how to make it work at scale
- You're as comfortable in a plant as you are in a development lab
- You develop people, not just products
- You create clarity and accountability without overcomplicating things
- You're energized by the opportunity to build, improve, and elevate
Travel Requirements• Travel as required for product development, customer meetings, research and internal collaboration. Up to 25%.
