Product Development Manager
About us
Vow is a food company - a very different one. We’re creating real meat products from animal cells instead of the animal itself. We’re bringing together cutting-edge innovations in science, engineering, culinary and design to make sustainable food that’s both irresistible and available to billions of people worldwide.
The Role
Are you passionate about developing innovative food products and bringing them from concept to reality? Do you enjoy working across science, culinary design, and manufacturing to craft products that are not only safe but also exciting and scalable?Join us as a Product Development Manager to lead the creation, testing, and scale-up of new food products at Vow.
As a Product Development Manager, you will:
Lead new product development, from concept ideation to full-scale production.Conduct sensory testing, texture analysis, and nutritional assessments to optimize product formulations.
Develop quality control procedures and ensure compliance with food safety and regulatory standards.
Work closely with Product Marketing, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain teams to refine product specifications, packaging, and sourcing strategies.
Support process scale-up and oversee the transition from prototype to manufacturing.
Provide technical expertise on preservation, processing, packaging, storage, and food delivery.
Collaborate with external partners and participate in business development activities as a technical representative.
Key Responsibilities
New Product Development & TestingDevelop, test, and refine new food products, ensuring alignment with Vow’s strategic goals.
Conduct experiments to analyse ingredient properties and develop application methods.
Lead sensory, texture, and consumer testing to validate product quality.
Oversee initial manufacturing scale-up, ensuring smooth handover to production teams.
Quality & ComplianceEstablish and monitor quality control procedures in food manufacturing.
Ensure all formulations and processes meet regulatory and food safety requirements.
Research and implement best practices in food preservation, processing, and storage.
Prepare and review reports, specifications, and compliance documentation.
Operational & Technical SupportSupport Manufacturing in process optimisation and troubleshooting.
Supervise and coordinate the work of technicians involved in product testing and quality control.
Provide technical input for commercial and business development efforts.
Required Skills & Attributes
Food Science Expertise: Strong understanding of food chemistry, ingredient functionality, and sensory evaluation.Product Development Experience: Hands-on experience in developing and scaling up new food products.
Regulatory Knowledge: Familiarity with food safety, compliance, and quality control standards.
Project Management: Ability to manage multiple projects, prioritise tasks, and meet deadlines.
Collaboration & Communication: Strong ability to work cross-functionally with teams in R&D, Marketing, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain.
Problem-Solving: Analytical mindset with a focus on practical solutions and continuous improvement.
Who we are and why join:
We are building a diverse, mission-led dream team of “Vowzers.” Our mission is to make food products for everyone. To do that well we need a workforce that’s representative of the people we serve. We celebrate multiple approaches and points of view - so we’re building a culture to match.Be yourself and come as you are.
Work on cutting-edge technology. We’re bringing together cutting-edge innovations in science, engineering, and food, to recreate the world’s most tantalising and unique culinary experiences. All without compromising on ethics or our planet along the way.Since our inception in 2019, we have held the title of being the first startup to cultivate meat from the cells of an undomesticated animal, and have served up our exotic meats ranging from kangaroo dumplings to alpaca sliders in tastings with world-renowned chefs.
Work with and learn from the best. Our team includes some of the world’s top scientists, innovators, operators, and creatives with decades of industry experience. Despite our experiences though, we all strive to build, break, learn, and repeat.We see the impossible as temporary and strive to learn and support our company and fellow Vowzers' growth as much as possible.
We’re fully funded and ready to go. We are a growing Aussie biotech start-up backed by Blackbird Ventures, Square Peg Capital, Grok Ventures, Tenacious Ventures, P7 Ventures, Toyota Ventures, and PeakBridge VC.
Vow perks and benefits:
Everyone is an owner. In addition to competitive base salaries, each and every ‘Vowzer’ owns equity in the company so we can all benefit from our hard work and future success.Generous paid parental leave. We offer 8 weeks of paid caregiver leave and an additional 8 weeks paid leave for the birth giver.
Generous relocation budget & support. Support for interstate or overseas team members and their families (including pets!)
Flexible working hours and location. We value work-life balance. While we’re mostly back in the office, you’re free to choose the best way for you to work.
Unlimited personal leave. At Vow we recognise that sometimes you need time off to recuperate, look after your mental health, or simply deal with an emergency. We put unlimited personal leave in place to empower you to truly bring your best self to work every single day and you are always paid for days taken off as personal leave.
Heaps of tasty samples from our culinary centre. Our fantastic "food inventors" on the Vow team are always cooking up new product prototypes, and all Vowzers are given the opportunity to taste, give feedback, and learn from their culinary prowess.
An awesome converted warehouse “campus” in Alexandria. Complete with a glass-walled lab, manufacturing line, free snacks, a culinary centre, and professional-grade coffee machine in our cafe, as well as a DIY workshop for all hands-on projects.
Human and dog friendly office! An inclusive community and culture, in a welcoming office, complete with friendly “Vowzer” dogs!A variety of social clubs. We encourage all our Vowzers to build the culture with us and share what you love by creating social clubs across the business. From book clubs to hiking groups, we’re always looking for ways to learn and engage with our team.