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Head of Product Development and Diversification at Kenya Tea Development Agency (MS) Ltd
Kenya Tea Development Agency (MS) Ltd
October 7, 2026
Full-time
On-site
Position Scope
Reporting to the Group General Manager-Research, Development and Innovation, the successful candidate will be responsible for leading KTDA's strategy for new product development, research, and diversification to reduce over-reliance on bulk orthodox and black CTC tea. The Head of NPD will drive development of new value-added tea products, alternative beverages, and non-tea products to improve farmer earnings, expand market access, and position KTDA as a global leader in diversified agricultural products.
Duties and Responsibilities
Developing and implementing KTDA's New Product Development research and Diversification strategy aligned to corporate goals and Tea Industry Act;
Leading the NPD Research, and Diversification teams to deliver a pipeline of commercially viable products;
Providing market and consumer insights to Senior Management for investment decisions;
Liaising with research institutions, Government Agencies and other related private institutions in executing NPD strategies;
Participating in review and formulation of new inputs, technologies and products in KTA through research;
Reviewing and recommending for adoption of specifications for key inputs, processes and equipment;
Planning and coordinating New Product Development projects/strategic initiatives;
Identifying training tools to enhance employee performance and skill development;
Documenting all phases of new product development;
Monitoring, evaluating New Product Development projects and ensuring effective utilization of resources;
Identifying market trends, consumer needs, and white spaces in tea, herbal infusions, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, and other agricultural value chains;
Overseeing concept development, product formulation, pilot testing, sensory evaluation, and commercial launch of new KTDA products;
Managing end-to-end process: ideation → R&D → regulatory approval → branding → market testing → scale-up;
Ensuring all new products meet Tea Board, KEBS, FDA, EU, and other export market standards;
Leading product, market, and agronomic research in partnership with TRFK, universities, and private labs;
Driving research innovation in processing technologies, packaging, shelf-life extension, and sustainability in collaborations with relevant SBUs;
Coordinating KTDA's product tests at the lab and manage associated budget and ensuring IP protection through patents and trademarks with KIPI;
Supporting factories in adoption of new processing lines for diversified products;
Disseminating NPD research findings to the end users;
Exploring and launching diversification into allied products: specialty teas, ready-to-drink, tea extracts, tea-based foods, bio-products, and carbon/tea by-products;
Building business cases for new ventures and JV partnerships;
Working with Marketing, Sales, and Factory Operations to ensure smooth handover from R&D to commercialization;
Tracking product P&L and ensuring ROI targets are met;
Preparing timely and accurate report and distributing to appropriate users
Qualifications / Skills / Experience
Education: Master's degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Agricultural Economics, Chemistry, or Business.
Professional: Membership to relevant professional body e.g. KIFST, ICPAK.
Experience: Minimum 8-10 years' experience, with at least 5 years in a senior NPD/R&D leadership role in FMCG, beverages, or agro-processing. Tea industry experience preferred.
Proven track record of launching at least 3 successful new products in the last 5 years.
Technical: Deep knowledge of tea chemistry, product formulation, sensory science, food safety and regulatory affairs.
Strategic: Market research, trend forecasting, business modeling, and portfolio management.
Leadership: Team management, cross-functional collaboration, project management, budget oversight.
Commercial: Brand positioning, pricing strategy, and go-to-market planning.
Data-driven decision making, innovation mindset, strong presentation and negotiation skills.
Reporting to the Group General Manager-Research, Development and Innovation, the successful candidate will be responsible for leading KTDA's strategy for new product development, research, and diversification to reduce over-reliance on bulk orthodox and black CTC tea. The Head of NPD will drive development of new value-added tea products, alternative beverages, and non-tea products to improve farmer earnings, expand market access, and position KTDA as a global leader in diversified agricultural products.
Duties and Responsibilities
Developing and implementing KTDA's New Product Development research and Diversification strategy aligned to corporate goals and Tea Industry Act;
Leading the NPD Research, and Diversification teams to deliver a pipeline of commercially viable products;
Providing market and consumer insights to Senior Management for investment decisions;
Liaising with research institutions, Government Agencies and other related private institutions in executing NPD strategies;
Participating in review and formulation of new inputs, technologies and products in KTA through research;
Reviewing and recommending for adoption of specifications for key inputs, processes and equipment;
Planning and coordinating New Product Development projects/strategic initiatives;
Identifying training tools to enhance employee performance and skill development;
Documenting all phases of new product development;
Monitoring, evaluating New Product Development projects and ensuring effective utilization of resources;
Identifying market trends, consumer needs, and white spaces in tea, herbal infusions, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, and other agricultural value chains;
Overseeing concept development, product formulation, pilot testing, sensory evaluation, and commercial launch of new KTDA products;
Managing end-to-end process: ideation → R&D → regulatory approval → branding → market testing → scale-up;
Ensuring all new products meet Tea Board, KEBS, FDA, EU, and other export market standards;
Leading product, market, and agronomic research in partnership with TRFK, universities, and private labs;
Driving research innovation in processing technologies, packaging, shelf-life extension, and sustainability in collaborations with relevant SBUs;
Coordinating KTDA's product tests at the lab and manage associated budget and ensuring IP protection through patents and trademarks with KIPI;
Supporting factories in adoption of new processing lines for diversified products;
Disseminating NPD research findings to the end users;
Exploring and launching diversification into allied products: specialty teas, ready-to-drink, tea extracts, tea-based foods, bio-products, and carbon/tea by-products;
Building business cases for new ventures and JV partnerships;
Working with Marketing, Sales, and Factory Operations to ensure smooth handover from R&D to commercialization;
Tracking product P&L and ensuring ROI targets are met;
Preparing timely and accurate report and distributing to appropriate users
Qualifications / Skills / Experience
Education: Master's degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Agricultural Economics, Chemistry, or Business.
Professional: Membership to relevant professional body e.g. KIFST, ICPAK.
Experience: Minimum 8-10 years' experience, with at least 5 years in a senior NPD/R&D leadership role in FMCG, beverages, or agro-processing. Tea industry experience preferred.
Proven track record of launching at least 3 successful new products in the last 5 years.
Technical: Deep knowledge of tea chemistry, product formulation, sensory science, food safety and regulatory affairs.
Strategic: Market research, trend forecasting, business modeling, and portfolio management.
Leadership: Team management, cross-functional collaboration, project management, budget oversight.
Commercial: Brand positioning, pricing strategy, and go-to-market planning.
Data-driven decision making, innovation mindset, strong presentation and negotiation skills.