We are looking for an experienced and technically strong R&D Manager to lead our Ready-to-Eat (RTE) product development and new category innovation. This role will be responsible for driving product innovation from concept development through trials, scale-up, and commercialisation, while ensuring products meet quality, safety, technical, and commercial requirements.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead the development of RTE products, including rice meals, bento, sandwiches, and ambient, chilled, and frozen products.
- Drive new product and category innovation aligned with business objectives and customer needs.
- Manage the complete product development lifecycle from concept, trial, pilot, scale-up to commercialisation.
- Apply strong food science principles in formulation, shelf life, texture, taste, stability, and product performance.
- Oversee shelf-life studies, validation trials, regulatory documentation, and compliance requirements.
- Collaborate closely with Production, QA, Engineering, Procurement, Marketing, and Commercial teams.
- Support machinery evaluation, process optimisation, and technical feasibility for new product development.
- Lead, mentor, and develop the R&D team while strengthening the organisation's product innovation capabilities.
Requirements:
- Degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Culinary Science, or a related discipline.
- 8–12 years of relevant R&D experience, preferably within RTE, central kitchen, or food manufacturing environments.
- Strong hands-on experience in food product development and commercialisation.
- Good knowledge of food processing, machinery, shelf life, packaging, and regulatory compliance.
- Experience working with retail, convenience stores, QSR, or OEM customers will be an added advantage.
- Strong leadership, project management, problem-solving, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
- A combination of technical food science expertise and culinary/product development experience.
If you are passionate about food innovation and product development and have the experience to bring ideas from concept to commercialisation, we welcome you to explore this opportunity with us.
