Naïf Product Development Manager

When Jochem and Sjoerd both became dads for the first time in 2013, they realized that baby care products were full of harmful ingredients. Driven to make a change, Naïf was born.

"Every human is naturally born naive: pure, honest and innocent. We want to keep it that way."
– Jochem Hes en Sjoerd Trompetter, founding fathers Naïf.

Our mission is to change the world of personal care, and to protect and care for the environment that our children (and their children) will live in at all costs. So we choose to make personal care products that are mild for sensitive skin and less harmful for our planet. We were the first brand to introduce plastic-free wet wipes in the Netherlands, and we actively campaign against the use of microplastics in personal care products.

We have everything you need for your baby, from diaper cream to plastic-free wipes, shampoo and even sunscreen. The sensitive baby skin doesn’t need a lot if you ask us, and definitely no bad stuff. That’s why Naïf products are made with natural ingredients, and without mineral oils, microplastics or SLES. We choose high quality ingredients because your baby only deserves the best. Good care, worry-free.
 

As a Product Development Manager at Naïf, you play a significant role in transforming the world of personal care. We strongly believe that it’s actually very easy to convince consumers to choose a more sustainable baby care product. We do so by making products that are simply better and more qualitative than other brands out there. Simple as that.

We are proud of each and every product we make and obsess over the ingredients, the look and feel, and the environmental footprint. And we keep on improving and growing. That’s where you come in!

In this role you drive the development and launch of new products in all of our categories. You monitor the insights and latest trends in our industry. You work closely with our sales & marketing teams to come up with a product development roadmap and are responsible for executing it. You ensure all our products meet the highest standards of quality, ingredients and sustainability and leave our consumers with a wow-feeling. You also work closely with our colleagues in the Finance and Operations teams to ensure products are delivered to our customers on time, and help answer any questions consumers may ask to our customer care agents.

Together with the Product Manager you are also responsible for the full development cycle, from concept, to development, to delivery of the product on the shelf. You are hands-on and pragmatic, and have a coaching and people-first leadership style.

Imagine making the next Naïf products and spotting them on the shelves? Read on!

 

What will you do?

• You are responsible for the full development cycle of 30+ product innovations and renovations per year, spanning a wide range of categories such as wipes, sun care, pregnancy oil to baby cream and shampoo. From concept to launch: You make it happen.
• You bring a consumer-centric approach & mindset, putting parents at the core of our innovation processes and soliciting their feedback early and often
• You create and manage our yearly product development roadmap, manage project timelines, budgets, and resources to ensure timely and cost-effective product launches.
• You develop product specifications and formulations in collaboration with our external partners: You are the expert and go-to person for all ingredients and composition of new products, and you can challenge our external partners on use of ingredients, formulations or regulatory requirements.
• You oversee product testing, validation, and regulatory compliance to ensure product safety and quality.
• You support our Product Manager in conducting market research and consumer insights to identify new product opportunities, feedback and trends for our target audience and (international) markets. 
• You work closely with other Naïf teams, ensuring smooth collaboration with finance, operations, marketing and sales to achieve our goals.
• You organize and lead the annual Product Development Hackathon, where you bring insights and ideas for new products and facilitate brainstorms between colleagues from sales, marketing & operations.
• You identify and manage relationships with suppliers, manufacturers, and other external partners in the process of development, testing and launching our products.
• You negotiate contracts and agreements to secure the best terms for quality, cost, and delivery and you continuously seek opportunities to improve our cost-efficiency and quality.
• You stay ahead of industry trends, competitive landscape, and technological advancements to drive innovation in the personal care industry and among our competitors.
• You focus on improving the sustainability of our products during all phases: From sourcing and traceability of ingredients, to ensuring fair wages are paid in our supply chain, to minimizing waste in the production process, and reducing the amount of packaging of our products. We’re a B Corp and always looking for opportunities to further reduce our impact on people & planet.

 

What will you bring?

• 3+ years of experience in a similar role in product development, preferably in a fast-paced environment within the personal care or cosmetics industry or as part of an R&D team of a larger organization. 
• A master’s degree or similar education experience. An education in chemistry, biochemical science, or a related field is a plus.
• Technical expertise about ingredients at a detailed level and a substantive knowledge of (personal care) products.
• Proven track record of successfully developing and launching tangible (personal care) products.
• A strong combination of a commercial and technical mindset with a balanced focus on costs, business needs, efficiency and quality of ingredients. 
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and independently, doing so independently.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams and external partners like suppliers.
• An innovative and hands-on mindset with a passion for personal care products and consumer trends to bring them to market.
   

At Naïf, we aim to change the world of personal care. It can and must be done better as 9 out of 10 personal care products still contain plastic. We believe in a world where only the best ingredients are used for baby skin and where microplastics are no longer found in a baby's bath or care routine. Working at Naïf is not just a job; you truly can contribute to a change in the world of personal care! And the job comes with:

• An unique opportunity to use your product management experience for the good and make a positive impact.
• Working in a start-up culture full of energy, impact, freedom, and a motivated team.
• A beautiful office to work from, located near the beach of Scheveningen, along with remote working possibilities.
• At least 25 vacation days per year on a full-time basis (but we don’t keep track).
• A competitive salary package.
• A discount on a gym membership at OneFit.
• An annual impact and volunteer day and inspiration sessions from sustainability pioneers.
• We love to celebrate successes and organize many fun team activities together. Last year we went to Texel together and this year we celebrate Christmas in Cologne.
   

Are you interested in working for a company where we work every day to improve the world? At Naïf, everyone is welcome to apply, regardless of your background, gender, age, or beliefs. We find it important to have a diverse team so that we can learn from each other and bring different perspectives. It’s about what you can contribute and who you are as a person, not where you come from or what you look like.

So, are you enthusiastic, motivated, and want to be part of our team? Don’t hesitate; we can't wait to hear from you!