What are the responsibilities and job description for the New Product Development Manager position at Shinkei?
The Role
This role leads the development and commercialization of new seafood products across Seremoni Seafood’s operations.
The New Product Development (NPD) Manager serves as the bridge between commercial opportunities and operational execution — translating customer and sales requests into products that are technically feasible, operationally scalable, and financially viable. This role plays a key part in evaluating profitability, production readiness, packaging solutions, and manufacturing processes for both new and existing product lines.
This is a highly cross-functional position that partners closely with Sales, Operations, Procurement, Processing, and Quality teams to ensure products can be successfully developed, produced, and brought to market.
What You’ll Do
This role leads the development and commercialization of new seafood products across Seremoni Seafood’s operations.
The New Product Development (NPD) Manager serves as the bridge between commercial opportunities and operational execution — translating customer and sales requests into products that are technically feasible, operationally scalable, and financially viable. This role plays a key part in evaluating profitability, production readiness, packaging solutions, and manufacturing processes for both new and existing product lines.
This is a highly cross-functional position that partners closely with Sales, Operations, Procurement, Processing, and Quality teams to ensure products can be successfully developed, produced, and brought to market.
What You’ll Do
- Lead the development and commercialization of new seafood and value-added food products
- Partner closely with Sales teams to evaluate customer requests, market opportunities, and product feasibility
- Build detailed product cost models including raw materials, labor, packaging, and operational inputs
- Conduct yield testing and production analysis to validate profitability and manufacturing efficiency
- Research, source, and develop packaging solutions that support operational scalability and customer requirements
- Collaborate with suppliers to negotiate packaging specifications, pricing, and material options
- Develop technical specifications, SOPs, product data sheets, and production documentation
- Coordinate product trials, sample runs, and first-production validations with plant operations teams
- Work directly with Processing and Operations teams to define scalable manufacturing processes
- Partner with Procurement teams to establish technical specifications for raw materials, ingredients, and packaging
- Support Quality and Food Safety teams to ensure products meet customer, regulatory, and operational standards
- Contribute to continuous improvement efforts focused on yield optimization, cost management, and operational efficiency
- 3 years of experience in New Product Development, commercialization, or food manufacturing environments
- Strong understanding of food production processes, product costing, and yield analysis
- Experience working cross-functionally with Sales, Operations, Procurement, and Quality teams
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with advanced Excel proficiency
- Ability to balance commercial needs with operational realities and profitability targets
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
- Clear communicator with strong collaboration and stakeholder management skills
- Ability to work in fast-paced manufacturing and operational environments
- Seafood, protein, or food CPG manufacturing environments
- Packaging development and supplier negotiations
- Retail, foodservice, or private-label product development
- HACCP, FDA, USDA, or SQF-regulated production environments
- ERP systems, commercialization workflows, or specification management systems
- Bilingual English/Spanish proficiency