R&D Manager – International Adaptation & Existing Product Development

IDEAL SWEET AND PASTRY (S.P.S - L.L.C); Ajman; On-site; AED 300,000 - 420,000; Full time

Job summary

IDEAL SWEET AND PASTRY (S.P.S - L.L.C) seeks an entrepreneurial R D Manager to own the international clean-label product pipeline from India to global markets.

You will adapt Indian formulations to meet diverse regulatory and consumer requirements across GCC, EU, and US, drive NPD/EPD initiatives, and coordinate with suppliers and manufacturing partners to maintain clean-label integrity and product performance.

Qualifications

• 6–8+ years in food product R&D with clean-label focus.
• Proven NPD and EPD management incl. raw-material substitutions.
• Bi-regional expertise: India and international export markets.

Responsibilities

• International Market Adaptation: tailor formulations for global regions.
• Existing Product Development: optimize recipes and scale for cost/quality.
• Solo Technical Operations: own bench to factory coordination and supplier engagement.

Skills

R&D leadership

Food product dev

Clean-label focus

NPD/EPD experience

Regulatory compliance

India intl exposure

Cost optimization

Education

BSc Food Science

MSc Food Technology

Job description

Position R D Manager Clean Label International EPD Location UAE Catering to Global Markets Department Research Development Innovation strong u Role Type Senior Individual Contributor Solo Technical Resource u strong

We are seeking an entrepreneurial and technically robust R D Manager to own our international product pipeline. In this role you will be the sole technical anchor for our growing clean-label food portfolio outside of India. You will be responsible for taking successful domestic India formulations and re-engineering them to thrive in diverse International Business IB markets. Additionally you will drive our Existing Product Development EPD pipeline optimizing active recipes for commercial efficiency raw material shifts and supply chain continuity without ever compromising our strict clean-label promise strong Core Responsibilities strong strong

Core Responsibilities

• 1 International Market Adaptation New Concepts strong strong Recipe Localization strong Take core food formulations developed for the Indian market and adapt them taste texture shelf-life and functional performance to match the distinct palates and compliance frameworks of international target regions strong NPD Ideation strong Develop net-new product concepts designed specifically for the global market moving them rapidly from kitchen-scale proof-of-concept to pilot launch strong Global Regulatory Alignment strong Ensure all adapted and new formulations strictly comply with regional food codes eg UK Eu North Americas East Asia etc and Western clean-label definitions
• 2 Existing Product Development EPD Value Engineering strong strong Raw Material Optimization strong Lead alternative ingredient sourcing and qualification When supply chains shift or costs spike you will identify test and validate replacement raw materials strong Recipe Re-Engineering strong Execute recipe changes driven by cost-reduction VAVE vendor changes or factory scaling bottlenecks strong Output Impact Validation strong Run comprehensive stability sensory and shelf-life testing to guarantee that raw material or recipe alterations have strong zero negative impact strong on final product quality clean-label status or consumer experience
• 3 Solo Technical Operations Sourcing strong strong End-to-End Execution strong Act as a true team of one You will personally handle bench-top blending documentation pilot testing and factory scale-up coordination strong Vendor Co-Packer Collaboration strong Partner with global ingredient suppliers to scout cutting-edge natural functional replacements e g clean-label binders natural shelf-life extenders and work directly with manufacturing plants to implement recipe updates

Must-Have Experience

Must-Have Experience:6 to 8+ years of hands-on R&D experience in food product development, with a heavy emphasis on clean-label, natural, or functional foods.Proven track record in both NPD and EPD, specifically managing raw material substitutions, cost-optimization matrixes, and factory-level recipe scaling.Bi-regional expertise: Strong, native understanding of the Indian ingredient ecosystem and consumer palate, combined with practical experience launching or adapting products for international export markets (GCC, EU, or US).

Technical & Educational Requirements

Technical & Educational Requirements:Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Food Engineering, or an equivalent applied chemical/biochemical discipline.Clean-Label Understanding: Technical understanding of ingredient interactions- specifically how to maintain emulsion, texture, and shelf-life using only clean, recognizable, and minimally processed ingredients.Autonomy: Absolute comfort operating as an individual contributor in a massive corporate ecosystem; you must have the professional backbone to manage commercial timelines and protect product integrity.