Background information about the job or company (e.g., role context, company overview)

Indigenous Kenyans were barred by law from growing tea until the dawn of independence when the legislation was repealed for the indigenous people to commence on tea growing. In 1960, the colonial government created the Special Crops Development Authority (SCDA) to promote growing of tea by Africans under the auspices of the ministry of Agriculture. After ...

Responsibilities or duties

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.

Qualifications or requirements (e.g., education, skills)

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 needed

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.

Any other provided details (e.g., benefits, work environment, team info, or additional notes)

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.

• 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

• Deep knowledge of tea chemistry, product formulation, sensory science, food safety and regulatory affairs.
• Market research, trend forecasting, business modeling, and portfolio management.
• Team management, cross-functional collaboration, project management, budget oversight.
• Brand positioning, pricing strategy, and go-to-market planning.
• Data-driven decision making, innovation mindset, strong presentation and negotiation skills.

• Master’s degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Agricultural Economics, Chemistry, or Business.
• Membership to relevant professional body e.g. KIFST, ICPAK.
• 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.