Assistant R&D Manager (Chemical)

Key Challenges of the Role

• Lead and drive new product development in emerging categories with strong ownership and proactive execution
• Manage projects end-to-end, from concept to first commercialization, ensuring products meet customer quality and performance expectations
• Move beyond me-too products by identifying global market gaps and creating differentiated, value-added solutions

Key Result Areas

1) New Product Development

• Identify market trends and consumer needs to guide product development
• Manage the full product development process, from idea to launch
• Research and test new ingredients or formulations to ensure functional performance

2) Technical & Customer-Focused Execution

• Define product specifications that meet regulatory, manufacturing, and customer requirements
• Provide technical support and solutions to sales teams and customers
• Work closely with marketing and sales, including customer meetings and product demonstrations

3) Technical Knowledge & Innovation

• Study scientific research and patents to identify new product and application opportunities
• Support issue resolution and continuous improvement for newly launched products

4) Commercial-Ready Product Portfolio

• Prepare clear technical documents to support sales and customer communication
• Conduct stability and performance testing to ensure product quality and support faster market launches

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelors or Masters degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Chemistry, or a related field
• 7 years of experience in product development, application development, or technical roles in the food or ingredient industry
• Proven experience managing the full new product development process, from concept to first launch
• Ability to handle multiple development projects at the same time while meeting timelines and quality standards
• Strong knowledge of food ingredient functionality and application testing
• Experience working with food regulations, product specifications, and quality systems
• Experience in competitive analysis, technical research, and product benchmarking
• Hands-on experience providing technical support to sales or commercial teams, including customer visits and product demonstrations
• Experience handling quality issues and customer complaints related to new or customized products
• Good English communication skills for technical documents, presentations, and professional communication