SENIOR MANAGER, RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

Job Responsibilities:1. RTE & New Category Product Development.
Lead development of RTE products including rice
meals, bento, sandwiches, ambient/chilled/frozen categories..
Drive new category innovation aligned with
business growth strategy and customer
requirements..
Manage product lifecycle from concept bench
trial pilot scale-up commercialize..
Ensure products are scalable, cost-effective,
and operationally feasible for mass production.2. Food Science & Technical Excellence.
Apply strong food science principles in
formulation, shelf-life extension, texture, taste, and stability..
Lead and validate shelf-life studies, challenge
tests, and product validation trials..
Oversee nutritional facts, COA, allergen
control, halal compliance, and regulatory documentation..
Work closely with QA/QC to ensure compliance
with HACCP, GMP, Halal, and authority requirements.3. Machinery & Process Understanding.
Possess strong understanding of food processing
machinery (e.g. cooking systems, blast chilling, retort, top seal, MAP, vacuum,
freezing)..
Collaborate with Engineering, Production, and
suppliers during machine evaluation, trials, and commissioning..
Translate machine capabilities into product and
process innovation..
Support CAPEX justification through technical
feasibility and R&D validation.4. Culinary Leadership.
Demonstrate exceptional culinary knowledge with
strong palate and product sensibility..
Ensure products meet sensory expectations
(taste, texture, aroma, appearance)..
Lead sensory evaluations, benchmarking, and
reformulation to meet customer and market needs..
Balance culinary creativity with manufacturing
and shelf-life constraints.5. Cross-Functional Collaboration.
Work closely with Production, QA, Procurement,
Marketing, andmCommercial teams..
Support customer presentations, sensory
sessions, and product justification..
Engage suppliers and external partners for
ingredient sourcing, technology, and innovation.6. Team Leadership & Capability Building.
Lead, mentor, and develop R&D team members..
Establish clear R&D workflows, timelines,
and accountability..
Build a strong R&D culture focused on
innovation, discipline, and execution.
Job Requirements.
Degree in Food Science, Food Technology,
Culinary Science, or related field..
Minimum 8-12 years of R&D experience,
preferably in RTE / central kitchen / food manufacturing..
Strong hands-on experience in RTE product
development and commercialization..
Excellent understanding of food processing
machinery and manufacturing constraints..
Solid knowledge of food science, shelf life,
packaging, and regulatory compliance..
Strong culinary background with proven ability
to translate chef level concepts into scalable products..
Experience working with retail, convenience
store, QSR, or OEM customers is an advantage..
Strong leadership, communication, and
problem-solving skills.