Are you ready to join an international company that is focused on creating sustainable products for foodservice and airline industries?

Probably at some point in your life you traveled on the plane & ordered some food or went to your nearby takeout place to buy a salad for lunch. In this case, you might have seen deSter products and didn’t even know it. A lot of people don’t realize that packaging world can be exciting, but it is more than that, especially when it comes to food. deSter is unique in its industry because we design and manufacture packaging as well as some additional complimentary products such as amenity kits, airplane trolleys & condiment packs. Our purpose is to create sustainable food and travel experiences and we need you on this journey.

If you want to be a part of a company that strives to create a better future and change how we look at food packaging, you are in the right place.

Job Summary

With a passion for products and innovation, the Product Manager Beverage Solutions drives strategic execution and fosters cross-functional collaboration across Sales, Procurement, Design, R&D, Engineering, and Manufacturing.

This role leads targeted product developments and manages customer requests and tenders by defining needs, coordinating teams, and delivering compelling proposals and sales materials.

The Product Manager acts as the go-to expert on product specifications, pricing, and market insights, owning the product narrative and guiding make-or-buy decisions. The Product Manager validates solutions with stakeholders, delivers product training, and ensures seamless knowledge sharing across the organization.

Additionally, this role supports successful product launches, conducts post-launch reviews to drive continuous improvement, and supports quality concerns and insourcing initiatives.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. Drive Product Vision & Innovation

• Show passion for products and maintain a strong appetite for innovation.
• Understand market trends and customer needs to shape product direction.

2. Stakeholder Management

• Coordinate effectively with internal teams such as design, engineering, procurement, and sales.
• Collaborate with external stakeholders including customers, suppliers, and partners.
• Maintain strong relationships and ensure alignment across all parties.

3. Customer & Market Understanding

• Listen actively to customers to identify real problems and unmet needs.
• Translate insights into clear, actionable development briefs.
• Define what the product should offer and why it matters.

4. Communication

• Clearly articulate product requirements and updates to stakeholders.
• Present solutions both internally (e.g., to teams, leadership) and externally (e.g., to customers, partners).
• Ensure transparency and clarity throughout the product lifecycle.

5. Project Management

• Oversee product development from concept to delivery.
• Manage timelines, progress, and cross-functional alignment.
• Address obstacles and ensure successful execution.

6. Creative Problem Solving

• Bring a “can-do” mentality to challenges.
• Develop creative solutions to issues that arise during development.
• Question and improve the status quo to drive better outcomes.

7. T-Shaped Skills

• Specialist (vertical bar of the “T”): Deep expertise in the assigned product group.
• Generalist (horizontal bar of the “T”): Broad understanding of customer operations, the market, logistics, and related areas.

Core Competencies and Requirements

Education

• Master degree in Product Development, Marketing, Industrial Design, Engineering or similar by experience.

Work Experience

• 5-10 years experience in product management, product development, or a related field.
• Proven track record working with cross-functional teams.
• Ability to listen to customers and understanding market needs, to define what the problem is, what could be offered and to define clear development briefings and product requirements
• Hands-on project management experience

Technical Skills

Certifcation, licenses and registration

• Understanding of product lifecycle management
• Ability to discuss feasibility with engineering
• Understanding of logistics, supply chain, procurement, and manufacturing processes (industry-specific)
• Awareness of customer workflows and operational environments

Core Competencies Required

• Product thinking & strategic planning
• Stakeholder and relationship management
• Clear written and verbal communication
• Presentation skills
• Project & process management
• Creative and analytical problem-solving
• T-shaped professional profile (specialist + generalist)
• A feeling for design and graphics is a plus

Job Dimensions

The Beverage Solutions Product Group is one of deSter’s key business segments, specializing in innovative drinkware solutions for both the global airline and foodservice markets.

For airlines, we create and deliver recyclable, compostable, and reusable cups designed to meet the highest standards of passenger experience, align with airline sustainability goals, and fit seamlessly into operational requirements. Our solutions ensure efficient crew service and smooth integration into catering operations.

In the foodservice sector, we focus primarily on large-scale events and festivals. Here, we deliver reusable cups combined with smart return schemes. We serve major football clubs and iconic music festivals such as Tomorrowland, among others.

Environment and Safety

Every deSter employee contributes to a safe and environmentally conscious working environment and in doing so assumes the following responsibilities:

• Act in a safe and environmentally conscious manner in all work activities.
• Contribute to deSter's environmental and safety objectives and performance.
• Actively report deviations, hazardous situations and incidents.
• Participate in analyses and initiatives that frame within environment and safety and are
• relevant to the job.

If you want to know more about deSter’s Enviornmental and Social commitments, go to https://dester.com/sustainability/

What we offer

Joining deSter means you will become a part of an innovative company with sustainability at heart and colleagues & customers globally. Besides competitive salary and benefits, we also offer hybrid way of working (office/remote) and a team of colleagues that have a passion & enthusiasm for what they do.