Head - Research & Development - Food Products

Our client is a fast growing organization and is in the process of evolving and expanding significantly in the food and Agri industry backed by strong fundamentals. They are in the process of hiring few TOP Talents for specific roles to augment their vision and growth.

This is a critical leadership role responsible for driving innovations, productivity and supporting processes across the Organizations multiple current and future businesses.

The categories include basic foods to highly value-added foods in future. Currently spanning from staples, Basic Dairy, spices, condiments, fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds and expanding into highly value added products like Dairy and expanding over time into \new categories like Ready-to-eat, Healthy breakfast, Baked, Category shifting new platforms, Sweet snacks, Healthy food stuffs and related beverages

The role is expected to lead and execute, setting directions and strategize the following-

- Build & execute research and development strategies/ projects to deliver Business Results through

- Innovative product development initiatives

- Excellence of design delivery on core brands

- Creating and enhancing productivity, product quality, cost effectiveness standards for new & existing products

- Support execution of the Business Plan/ AOP through research and development processes and best practices

- Lead the Technology team to ensure to ensure research and development initiatives match with business requirements

- DESIGN PRODUCTS THAT MEET THE CHALLENGES OF AVAILABLE RM, PM AND SUPPLY CHAIN

- Quality Design leadership that meet the challenges of consumer acceptance

- Measures set for all financial targets in innovations

Key Challenges :

- Setting strong financial and success measures in innovation and executing to success

- Meeting the challenges of supply chain quality and deliver to consumer expectations

- Continuous measured productivity across the chain

- Strong consumer orientation in all the innovations

- Speed of delivery - High turn-around of innovations on multiple platforms

- Watch out competition and stay ahead of competition

- Regulatory compliance

The scope of the role would include :

- The role provides for innovations across New Product Development, Packaging Development, Product Design and Quality by Design for all foods categories that the organization is currently operating in India and for exports

- Staples like - Rice, Dhal, Wheat, wheat Flour, Millets / Organic Staples and value-added staples - fortified & foods / Value added Staple based product - flours, ready-mixes, batters, snacks etc., that span through consumer consumption occasions condiment blends

- Dairy and value-added dairy products

- Spices and value-added spice blends, pre-cooked convenience

- Fresh products - fruits, vegetables and value added F&V products

- Convenience products - Ready to Cook / RTE across various categories

- Work in several related areas of food science - baking, dehydration, mixing, blending, extrusion, Fruits, Vegetables and Dairy Tech & related, spice technology /Innovative products of the future - e.g. Meat Mimics, Heath foods, etc

- Strong bent of consumer understanding and work with an idea on consumer appreciation in all the NPD's

- Lead packaging development work across categories

Main interactions:

- Marketing - Areas of Innovation being critical to the job the role will interact strongly with Marketing team especially category managers and consumer insights group - The role will interact strongly to identify, strategic consumer opportunities and work with marketing.

- Operations - The job would interface strongly with Operations Director & Quality Control Director, working in tandem to implement new innovations and support operational productivity

- Procurement / Purchase - Strong interface is a norm for the job with Purchase head on the procurement of various RM/PM. Continuously scout for productivity is a key aspect of the job

- Planning - Will need to interact with planning team to ensure that the new innovations meet the financial norms as per the AOP plans. Product Development plans must be Financially Wetted

- Packaging - The role will work closely with R & D - support,

- respect and implement the viewpoints of related groups as above within R & D

- Regulatory, Nutrition Science- The role will also lead the groups responsible for National and international regulations (Exports) and ensure compliance

- 3P & Co-Pack - Ensuring Co-pack and 3P compliance

- Audits- The role will ensure that every product design is compliant and in the process

- Master's / Doctorate in Food Technology / Food Science / Food Chemistry or related science

- Must have worked in related areas at least for 15 years in a well-known FMCG Food company

Only Those Having Relevant Experience As Per The Above Brief Need To Respond Clearly Indicating Their Ctc Details And Also Attach A Short Synopsis As Why You Feel That Your Candidature Would Fit In To This Role.

Pl Note That We Wish To Finalize This Position Within Two Weeks And Thus Qucik Response Is Desired.

Candidates Having Lesser Experience Can Be Considered For Middle Management Roles.