Head - Research & Development - Food Ingredients

In search of Head R&D for a global product development organization specializing in food ingredients, serving global and regional food companies worldwide. They are committed to helping their customers succeed through true, collaborative innovation.

Role: Head R&D

Location: Bangalore

Reporting to: President / CEO

Role Overview:

The position will provide leadership and vision to the R&D division of the organization. Head of the R&D Division will be responsible for overall R & D activities like new product development, projects from inception till successful commercial production as well as to improve subsequent process to meet customer & business requirements and achieve cost target / profit improvement projects.

Key Responsibilities:

- Define & apply the R&D program through Innovation, Renovation, Cost Innovation & existing business support initiatives to maximize company's business.

- Provide new ideas for product innovations as well as enhancing the existing range of products in the family on the basis of consumer insights and market feedback.

- Formulation strategy for food items, efficiency, working relations and cross-functional issues in R&D

- Design and supervise research studies, Scale up trials including clinical and commercial trials, Pre-trial document approval, New Product Initiatives. etc.

- Work with global cross-functional teams to deliver projects for top and bottom line growth/target

- Responsible for developing new (and existing) processes and systems in support of business objectives

- Collaborate productively with other members of global R&D and with the QC, Brand, Marketing and Ops departments for spec creation and product mapping.

- Collaborate with QA/ QC Auditing and improving safety and quality control procedures in your own and suppliers' factories, from the raw material stage through to the finished product

- Develop service level agreement with internal functions and adhere to the timelines.

- Manage and collaborate with outside partners i.e. vendors, researchers, advisors on Research and Product Development projects.

- Technology transfer from R&D to production scale; Work with Production department for production trials, validation and scaling up

- Oversee the arrangement sensory evaluations and consumer taste panels.

- Improve the effectiveness of R&D through continuous improvements such as improving sensory evaluation capabilities

- Work closely with procurement, production and marketing team to derive at product costing

- Develop, inspire and motivate junior research talent.

- Position of leadership: 3 Senior managers R&D/Product Development and 1 Senior Manager QA to report into this role

Desired:

- M.Sc / B.Tech / M.Tech (Food Technology) with minimum of 18 years of experience in the Food Processing/FMCG industry with the last 5 years in leadership position currently heading R&D for a company or heading R&D for a portfolio of products/ category of products in a company.

- Experience in R & D, New Product Development, Setting of R & D Centers, Food Safety, Product introduction, Food Regulations and Quality Assurance and awareness of business knowledge translating into ideation knowledge including latest technology advances in machinery, raw materials in order to be able to create a cost effective successful recipe.

- Analytical and innovative mind frame, understanding consumer behaviour and interests

- Excellent interpersonal skills, detail-oriented, and able to prioritize multiple tasks.

- Ability to influence and work both independently and collaboratively in a team structure.

- Cultural Aspects: A self-starter, ability to work in ambiguity and chaos, entrepreneurial setup with tremendous self-drive, ambiguity and entrepreneurial style of functioning.