Associate Product Developer Oakland, CA

The Associate Product Developer supports beverage innovation and product development activities within the R&D team. This role bridges concept development and technical formulation, contributing to benchtop prototypes, testing, and scale-up.

The ideal candidate combines a strong scientific foundation with practical, hands-on experience in fast-paced environments such as laboratories, kitchens, or production facilities. They are detail-oriented, organized, and motivated by the challenge of translating creative ideas into technically sound, scalable products. This role will report to the Product Development Manager, R&D.

How you'll help:

New Product Development and Scale Up

• Support new product development through benchtop formulation, prototype preparation, sensory evaluation, data analysis, and documentation for regulatory, nutritional, and certification compliance. Assist with flavor development and approaches to formulation.
• In partnership with Product Developers &/or Manager, lead 2-3 R&D projects per product cycle from concept through commercialization.
• Collaborate with Brand partners to assess feasibility and define technical strategy.
• Contribute to early-stage concepting, technical research, feasibility assessments, and pilot trials to ensure successful scale-up and product launch.
• Participate in pilot, line trials, and first production runs to evaluate product quality, process consistency, and adherence to specifications.
• Manage R&D ingredient inventory and ensure all benchtop evaluations follow Good Laboratory Practices in partnership with the R&D Technician.
• Collaborate cross-functionally and contribute to technical trend tracking and documentation.
• Represent R&D in cross-functional meetings and supplier discussions to advance project objectives and share technical insights.

Product Sensory, Testing, and Laboratory Operations

• Design and perform sensory, analytical, and performance testing to guide formulation optimization and ensure product quality.
• Recommend and help implement process improvements to enhance the efficiency and rigor of the NPD workflow.
• Collaborate with Quality [1]Assurance to maintain lab equipment, calibration schedules, and adherence to food safety and laboratory procedures.
• Document and report testing results with clarity and accuracy; escalate technical or quality concerns as appropriate.
• Support product training initiatives for Sales and Customer Service by communicating product attributes, technical features, and benefits.
• Maintain laboratory organization and support administrative functions including data entry, documentation flow, and coordination of sample shipments and storage.
• Contribute to the upkeep of Yerba Madre's Food Safety and Quality Systems by assisting with document control and compliance reviews.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support R&D and cross-functional business needs.

what you'll provide:

• Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry, Chemistry, Food Science, or a related field/equivalent experience
• 2-5 years of experience in beverage product development, food science, restaurant, or laboratory environments; laboratory experience required.
• Working knowledge of formulation principles, ingredient functionality, and processing impacts.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to balance multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Clear and professional written and verbal communication skills suited to cross-functional corporate collaboration.

How you'll be successful in this role:

• Applies scientific curiosity and critical thinking to understand and improve beverage systems.
• Demonstrates sound problem-solving and adaptability in situations with limited standardization.
• Learns quickly, executes with precision, and maintains a high level of attention to detail and accuracy.
• Translates direction into action with a practical, proactive, and resourceful approach.
• Brings initiative, ownership, and a collaborative mindset to daily R&D work.
• Comfortable conducting trials, analyzing data, and communicating results clearly and confidently.
• Proficient in Excel; basic sensory evaluation knowledge required.
• Administrative and project coordination experience preferred.

TRAVEL & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• 30% of time to support new product commercialization

What we offer:

Yerba Madre-formerly Guayaki Yerba Mate-is the nearly 30-year pioneer of regenerative yerba mate [yer-bah ma-tay] and the category leader in ready-to-drink mate beverages across North America. The name Yerba Madre, meaning "Mother Herb," is a tribute to Mother Earth and the ancestral wisdom of the Indigenous communities who have cultivated yerba mate for generations -a reflection of the values the brand has championed since day one.

Headquartered in Sebastopol and Venice, California, Yerba Madre sources organic, shade-grown yerba mate in direct partnership with 255 family farmers and Indigenous communities across Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. Using its Market Driven Regeneration model, every purchase helps reforest the Atlantic Forest, support fair trade premiums, and build long-term economic resilience for grower communities.

In 2025, the brand became the world's first yerba mate to achieve Regenerative Organic Certified Gold status-setting a new global standard for ecological integrity, cultural respect, and environmental restoration.

As an original founding member of the B Corp community and a founding member of the Purpose Pledge, Yerba Madre is committed to ethical business practices across ten key pillars, including climate positivity, living wages, circularity, and inclusion. Yerba Madre is available in over 45,000 retail locations across the U.S. and Canada. To learn more, visit www.YerbaMadre.com.