Head - Research & Development - Food Industry

Roles & Responsibilities

1. Define and Lead the R&D Strategy

- Develop the company's long- term research and development roadmap aligned with business goals and food- industry market trends.

- Implement R&D strategies and initiatives that ensure innovation remains a competitive advantage.

2. Drive Product Innovation & New Product Development (NPD)

- Lead innovation efforts to conceptualize, design, and develop new food products tailored to consumer needs, regulatory requirements, and emerging technologies.

- Manage projects from idea to commercialization, ensuring quality, feasibility, and timely launch.

3. Ensure Quality, Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance

- Establish and oversee quality standards and control procedures to ensure safety and compliance with food regulations.

- Maintain adherence to food safety standards (such as HACCP, FDA, FSSAI depending on region) across all product development cycles.

4. Lead and Develop R&D Teams

- Supervise and mentor teams of scientists, food technologists, engineers, and technicians.

- Hire, train, and build high- performing R&D teams with a culture of innovation and collaboration.

5. Manage R&D Projects, Budget, and Resources

- Oversee R&D budgets, optimize resource allocation, and ensure cost- effectiveness of research projects.

- Plan and monitor project timelines, ensuring successful execution within deadlines.

6. Cross- Functional Collaboration

- Work closely with marketing, production, supply chain, procurement, quality assurance, and sales to align product development with business strategy.

- Support product launches through technical documentation, specification development, and operational readiness.