R&D Staff – Formulation Specialist – Fried Chicken Restaurant Chain

The Practice Consulting; Pluit; On-site; IDR 501.588.000 - 668.785.000; Full time

Job summary

A food consulting company in Pluit, Indonesia, seeks an R&D Staff – Formulation Specialist to develop and optimize product formulations for a fried chicken chain. The ideal candidate should have a Bachelor's in Food Science and 2-3 years of experience in food formulation. Responsibilities include conducting product tests, ensuring compliance with food safety standards, and collaborating with various teams.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2-3 years’ experience in food formulation or product development.
• Strong knowledge of sensory evaluation and quality testing.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize product formulations for fried chicken-related items.
• Conduct lab trials to validate product quality and performance.
• Ensure compliance with food safety regulations and brand standards.

Skills

Knowledge of food chemistry

Ingredient functionality

Creativity in product formulation

Teamwork

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science

Tools

Formulation software

Job description

Overview

The R&D Staff – Formulation Specialist focuses on developing, optimizing, and documenting product formulations for the fried chicken restaurant chain. With a background in Food Science, this role ensures recipes are not only delicious but also scientifically sound, scalable, and compliant with food safety standards. The position supports innovation by applying food chemistry, ingredient functionality, and shelf-life knowledge to create products that are consistent, cost-effective, and operationally feasible for multiple outlets.

Responsibilities

• 1. Product Formulation & Development Develop and optimize formulations for fried chicken, coatings, marinades, sauces, side dishes, and beverages. Apply food science principles to achieve desired taste, texture, aroma, and stability. Innovate with functional ingredients to improve product quality and shelf life. Research and test new ingredients, additives, and flavor systems that align with brand standards. Evaluate ingredient performance during cooking, storage, and serving. Collaborate with procurement to source reliable and cost-effective suppliers. Create detailed formulation sheets, including ingredient specifications, proportions, and processing methods. Ensure consistency of taste and quality across all outlets through precise formulation control. Maintain technical documentation for food safety, Halal compliance, and product registration.
• 4. Product Testing & Quality Assurance Conduct lab and kitchen trials to validate product performance under operational conditions. Test product stability, shelf life, and sensory attributes. Work with quality assurance teams to establish critical control points and quality benchmarks.
• 5. Cross-Functional Collaboration Partner with operations to ensure formulations are practical for large-scale production. Support marketing with technical input for new product launches. Provide training to kitchen teams on formulation handling and preparation.
• 6. Compliance & Food Safety Ensure formulations comply with Halal certification, local food safety laws, and brand standards. Keep up to date with regulatory changes affecting ingredients and formulations. Monitor industry trends, competitor products, and emerging food technologies. Suggest enhancements to improve taste, nutrition, cost efficiency, and sustainability.

Qualifications

• 1. Education & Experience Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Technology, or related discipline. Minimum 2–3 years’ experience in food formulation, product development, or food manufacturing.
• 2. Technical Skills Strong knowledge of food chemistry, ingredient functionality, and processing effects on food. Experience in formulation software and recipe costing. Familiarity with sensory evaluation, shelf-life studies, and quality testing.
• 3. Creativity & Analytical Thinking Ability to combine scientific knowledge with culinary creativity. Problem-solving skills for formulation challenges and operational issues.
• 4. Soft Skills & Attributes Excellent communication and teamwork skills. Detail-oriented with strong documentation and organizational skills. Willingness to learn and adapt to fast-paced environments.
• 5. Other Requirements Willing to travel for testing, supplier visits, and outlet support. Flexible to work extended hours during product trials or launches.