Job Summary
The Technical and R&D Manager (Food Ingredients) is responsible for leading technical support and research & development activities for food and pet food ingredients. This role oversees new product development (NPD), provides technical solutions to customers, drives innovation initiatives, and manages the R&D team to deliver commercially viable and sustainable ingredient solutions that align with market trends and customer requirements.
Responsibilities:
- Lead and manage the Technical and New Product Development (NPD) team to ensure efficient development and commercialization of new food and pet food ingredient solutions.
- Develop innovative ingredient applications and prototypes based on customer requirements, market trends, and business objectives.
- Provide technical consultation and solutions to existing and potential customers regarding ingredient functionality, formulation challenges, product performance, and processing issues.
- Collaborate closely with Sales, Marketing, Procurement, and Operations teams to identify new business opportunities and support customer projects.
- Drive innovation initiatives focusing on cost optimization, clean-label formulations, sustainability, and emerging food technologies.
- Conduct research on market trends, consumer preferences, regulatory developments, and competitive products to identify new product opportunities.
- Manage product trials, laboratory testing, application development, and scale-up activities to ensure successful product launches.
- Ensure all product developments comply with food safety regulations, quality standards, and relevant industry requirements.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with customers, suppliers, and strategic partners to support business growth and technical excellence.
- Prepare technical reports, product documentation, presentations, and training materials for both internal teams and customers.
- Develop and mentor team members, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree or higher in Food Science, Food Technology, or related fields.
- Strong knowledge of food ingredients for food and pet food industries.
- Experience in R&D, Technical Service, or Product Development within the food ingredients industry.
- Proven ability to lead and manage the New Product Development (NPD) team, ensuring the effective development of new prototypes and innovative solutions.
- Capable of providing technical support and practical solutions to existing and prospective customers on ingredient-related challenges and product applications.
- Passionate about driving innovation and staying abreast of emerging trends, with a focus on cost optimization, clean-label solutions, sustainability, and new product opportunities.
- Strong leadership, problem-solving, and project management skills.
- Fluent in Thai and English (written and spoken).
