Innovation Manager

Job Description :

Technical Innovation

• Identify, evaluate, and recommend new technologies to enhance palm operations.
• Lead or support feasibility studies (technical & business) for process and product innovation projects.
• Collaborate and work closely with project and process engineers to ensure successful integration of new technologies into plant design or retrofit.
• Organize and facilitate knowledge-sharing platforms, technical workshops, vendor engagements, and field trials (e.g., POC, FAT).

Key Focus Area (Upstream)

• Process Optimization (e.g., quality improvement, process efficiency, cost reduction)
• Value Added Processes/ Products (e.g., biomass, palm by-products)
• Green & Sustainable Technology (e.g., carbon reduction, renewable energy)
• Regulatory Compliances (e.g., food safety, environmental)
• New palm related technologies (enzymatic, phytonutrient, animal nutrition, etc.)

New Project & Implementation Supports

• Coordinate and work together in cross-functional working groups and taskforces across new innovation projects/ programmes
• Monitor trials/ implementation project outcomes and assess ongoing performance against expected results.
• Identify gaps, risks, or improvement opportunities in current innovations and recommend future-proof enhancements.

Market Intelligence & Strategic Supports

• Develop and publish (internally) technology Market Intel reports specific to the palm oil industry and technologies.
• Provide internal stakeholders with regular updates on emerging technology trends, pilot successes, and vendor capabilities.
• Support departments with ad-hoc technical or business analyses related to innovation feasibility or benchmarking

Job Requirement :

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, Biotechnology, or related technical fields.
• Minimum 7 years of relevant experience in the palm oil processing industry
• Proven experience in plant trials, process innovation, or technology implementation.
• Familiarity with technology evaluation, cost-benefit analysis, and engineering system integration.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to manage cross-functional innovation projects from ideation to execution.
• Good stakeholder engagement skills and a collaborative mindset.
• Agile and adaptable to work on a diverse range of innovation areas.
• Willing to travel for site visits (local and overseas), vendor engagement, and plant project coordination.