Associate Product Developer

Job Description

Job Description

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. THIS ROLE IS A HYBRID POSITION, ON-SITE 2-3 DAYS A WEEK.

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

what you'll provide :

How you'll be successful in this role :

TRAVEL & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS :

What we offer :

The pay range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors; actual pay offered may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and / or training, critical skills, and / or business considerations. Sales commissions and / or variable pay plans are also offered depending on the position (ex : monthly, quarterly, annual bonuses). Additionally, we offer a competitive benefits package including top-tier benefits, comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans, employee life and disability, mental health benefits, paid medical leave, paid company holidays, and paid time off, as well as opportunities for career growth and advancement within our team!

Salary Range

$65,000—$81,000 USD

Yerba Madre—formerly Guayakí 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 .

Yerba Madre is an equal-opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will be treated with respect and receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity, genetic information, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, uniform service, Veteran status, age, or any other protected characteristic per federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the CA Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.