Head - Research & Development

About the Role:

We are looking for a dynamic and innovation-driven Head - Research & Development to lead the R&D and product innovation for a fast-paced, new-age FMCG and health-food brand in India.

The role will be responsible for driving the end-to-end product development and innovation lifecycle, from consumer and market insights through formulation, prototyping, testing, commercialization and continuous product improvement. The individual will work closely with cross-functional teams across Marketing, Manufacturing, Quality, Procurement, Supply Chain and Commercial to build differentiated, scalable and commercially viable products.

Key Responsibilities:

- Lead the overall R&D, product development and innovation strategy aligned with business and growth objectives.

- Drive new product development (NPD) across yogurt, dairy, functional food, and nutrition, health and wellness categories.

- Identify emerging consumer trends, ingredients, technologies and global product innovations to build a robust innovation pipeline.

- Lead the complete product development cycle - concept development, formulation, prototyping, sensory evaluation, validation, scale-up and commercialization.

- Develop differentiated products with a strong focus on health, nutrition, taste, quality, functionality and consumer relevance.

- Work closely with Marketing and Consumer Insights teams to translate consumer needs into commercially viable product concepts.

- Partner with Manufacturing and Operations teams for technology transfer, scale-up, process optimization and cost-effective commercialization.

- Ensure products comply with applicable food safety, quality and regulatory standards, including relevant FSSAI and other applicable regulations.

- Build and manage relationships with external laboratories, research institutions, ingredient suppliers, technology partners and global innovation partners.

- Evaluate new ingredients, technologies, processing methods and packaging solutions to improve product quality, shelf life and economics.

- Establish strong R&D processes, stage-gate mechanisms, documentation and governance for product development.

- Lead, mentor and develop a high-performing R&D / Product Development team.

- Drive continuous improvement of existing products through reformulation, cost optimization, quality enhancement and product renovation.

- Maintain awareness of global developments across dairy, functional foods, probiotics, and nutrition, healthcare and wellness categories.

Candidate Profile:

- 8 - 10 years of overall experience with significant experience in R&D, Product Development, Innovation or Technology within the Food, Dairy, FMCG, Nutrition, Healthcare or Wellness industry.

- Experience in yogurt / dairy / functional food / nutritional products would be highly relevant.

- Strong understanding of new product development, formulation, scale-up and commercialization.

- Experience working in a high-growth, innovation-led and fast-paced organization is preferred.

- Strong commercial orientation with the ability to balance innovation, consumer needs, quality and product economics.

- Demonstrated experience of leading and building R&D / innovation teams.

Education:

- Postgraduate qualification in Food Technology, Dairy Technology, Food Science, Biotechnology, Nutrition, Chemistry, or a related discipline.

- MBA from a reputed B-school, particularly for candidates with strong business, innovation, product development and commercial orientation.

Key Competencies:

- Product Innovation & R&D Leadership

- New Product Development

- Food/Dairy/Functional Nutrition

- Consumer & Market Insight

- Formulation & Product Technology

- Commercialization & Scale-up

- Quality & Regulatory Understanding

- Strategic Thinking & Business Orientation

- Cross-functional Stakeholder Management

- Team Building & Leadership

- Global Innovation Exposure