The Company:
BoobyBiome is transforming infant health by delivering the breast milk microbiome to all babies. Our research-driven innovations aim to improve early-life health outcomes. BoobyBiome's first product is a baby bottle device designed to protect the beneficial bacteria in expressed breast milk. We are also developing a synbiotic for infants.
The Role:
We are seeking a proactive and dynamic Product Operations Lead to lead our new product introduction (NPI), procurement, and supply chain. This role is ideal for someone with a background in hardware product development and operations, who can drive products from concept through to launch while building the foundations for scale. You will oversee supplier engagement, manufacturing, quality, and logistics to ensure smooth design transfer, robust supply chains, and successful product launches.
Reporting to the COO, You will work closely with the founding team, R&D and product teams, and external partners to bring our products to life, ensure operational readiness for market entry, and maintain supply continuity across launch markets. Over time, this role will expand to include budget ownership, P&L responsibilities, and team leadership as operations scale.
Key Responsibilities:
New Product Introduction & Development
* Drive end-to-end product lifecycle: supplier engagement, prototyping, validation, and launch.
* Lead the transition from design to production, ensuring smooth design transfer and design for manufacturability, scalability, and cost efficiency.
* Oversee design reviews, risk assessments, and validation testing.
* Manage risk mitigation, issue tracking, and resolution throughout development.
* Continue to develop stage-gate and agile processes to manage project milestones and readiness.
Manufacturing & Procurement
* Lead RFI/RFQ processes, supplier evaluation, contract negotiation, and Master Service Agreements.
* Negotiate contracts and build long-term supplier partnerships, leading our strategic sourcing approach.
* Drive cost savings through value engineering and supplier efficiencies.
* Assist with demand planning, stock forecasting, and purchasing processes.
* Maintain supplier relationships and manage manufacturing timelines and quality oversight.
Quality & Compliance
* Develop and implement quality strategies while ensuring operational practicality.
* Establish processes to ensure product quality, reliability, and compliance with relevant regulations.
* Oversee testing, certifications, and compliance documentation.
* Collaborate with product and design teams to integrate quality requirements early in development.
Logistics & Fulfilment (lighter emphasis)
* Oversee 3PL, freight forwarder, and carrier partnerships.
* Support SKU tracking, labelling, carton selection, and product compliance in logistics.
* Work with marketing team on packaging requirements and downstream implications (e.g., palletisation, shipping tests).
Business Operations & Reporting (lighter emphasis)
* Build and own launch delivery timelines and project plans (Gantt, milestone tracking).
* Produce executive reporting on launch readiness, supplier status, and operational KPIs.
* Collaborate with cross functional teams to align operational processes with business goals.
* Monitor costs, budget adherence, and highlight risks to senior leadership.
Essential Qualifications & Experience:
* Bachelor’s degree in Business, Operations, Engineering, or related field (Master’s a plus).
* 5+ years’ experience in hardware product operations and NPI, ideally in healthtech, infant products or consumer goods.
* Proven experience leading design transfer, manufacturing scale-up, and supplier management.
* Skilled in contract negotiation, supplier partnerships, inventory forecasting, and budgeting.
* Proficient in supply chain tools, logistics platforms, and ERP/EDI integrations.
* Strong background in quality management, compliance, and operational risk mitigation.
* Excellent project management and stakeholder communication skills.
* Comfortable in a fast-paced startup environment, detail-oriented, and able to multitask.
Desirable:
* Knowledge of consumer product regulatory requirements, especially infant products or food contact goods.
* Experience with D2C and/or B2B sales operations.