Head of Food Research and Development (R&D)

Job Details

1. Take full responsibility for establishing and managing the R&D branch of the assigned country from the ground up (0 → 1), including daily operations, regional R&D strategy, and annual product development plans in alignment with sales targets and business growth in the local market.

1. Manage consumer insights, analyze competitors, and research distribution channel requirements. Lead localization of product development, such as adjusting formulas, flavors, and product sizes, to create product lines and Best Sellers in the market.

1. Build, develop, evaluate, and manage the local R&D team. Comply with the company's global R&D system standards and manage projects to completion within the specified time and quality.

1. Coordinate with Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain, and factories to drive products from Pilot to Mass Production. Monitor sales and consumer feedback after product launch to develop, improve, or discontinue products, managing the full product lifecycle.

1. Responsible for local food laws, product registration, legal compliance verification, and coordinating with regulatory agencies to ensure all products are legally compliant.

1. Report market movements, R&D progress, and industry trends to Headquarters, along with summarizing local product development knowledge, and execute technical tasks from Headquarters.

Must undergo training in China for 1–2 months Focusing on technical aspects and product development Must be able to work abroad for long periods and accept international relocation.

Business Type: Contract manufacturing, packaging, assembly, design, research, development, and preservation of food, beverages, food additives, food ingredients, or dietary supplements using modern technology.

Benefits Annual bonus Free accommodation and food Social Security Leave entitlements according to labor law Festival gifts

Work 6 days/week (1 day off) Time: 08:30–12:00 and 13:00–17:30

Qualifications: Age not exceeding 42 years old Male or female Bachelor's degree or higher in Food Science and Technology or related fields Proficient English skills (Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing) to communicate with international suppliers and local production teams, as well as reporting to Headquarters If able to use local languages such as Indonesian, Thai, or Arabic, will be specially considered Systematic knowledge in R&D management At least 5 years of experience in snack development End-to-end experience in at least 1–2 product groups, such as baked goods (short shelf life / long shelf life) Has successfully led at least 5 projects bringing new products to international markets Experience in standardizing work processes and cross-functional coordination (Sales, Brand, Production, Procurement) with the ability to effectively drive research into commercial results Understanding of snack consumption trends in target markets (Southeast Asia / Middle East); those who have created regional Best Sellers will be specially considered If previously worked in multinational snack companies (e.g., Pepsi, Mondelez, Lotte) or leading companies in target markets and have experience adjusting production lines for international markets, will be specially considered Accurate understanding of snack trends in each region with product innovation capabilities Ability to control R&D project costs and solve technical problems, such as quality stability throughout product shelf life; able to provide technical training to the team Skills in market localization Understanding of food regulations in target markets, such as HALAL standards in Southeast Asia Ability to thoroughly verify raw materials, product labels, and production processes to ensure compliance with requirements Strategic thinking: Ability to use market data (competitor analysis / consumer research) to plan annual R&D and product innovation direction Ability to develop international R&D teams, delegate tasks clearly, stimulate creativity, and coordinate well across functions