Food & Beverage Formulation Specialist

Food Research Lab; Chennai; On-site; INR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Food Research Lab in Chennai seeks a Food Beverages Formulation Specialist to lead product and process development, test prototypes, and support commercialization.

The role spans formulation design, market research, nutrition and regulatory compliance, cross-functional collaboration, and supplier coordination with on-site testing and plant trials.

Qualifications

• Minimum Education: Bachelor’s degree in food technology, Food Science, or closely related field, or 4 years of relevant work experience.
• Industry Experience: Prior experience in food and beverage product development in a commercial setting preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of new food and beverage products or enhancements aligned with business objectives and customer needs.
• Develop and establish product formulations based on industry trends and customer requirements.
• Research markets and technologies to drive innovative product concepts.
• Support product development from bench testing to commercialization, including scale-up and cost control.
• Ensure formulations meet nutritional and regulatory standards with collaboration from nutritionists/dietitians.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams and manage projects to successful outcomes.
• Collaborate with external ingredient suppliers to achieve development goals.
• Maintain ISO 9001:2015 compliant reports and documentation.

Skills

Project Management

Creative/Technical

Client Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Food Tech/Science

Job description

This role will be based in Chennai and food product development scientists perform food product and process development activities including testing of prototypes, competitive products, and production samples. Document ingredients, formulations, processes, and testing involved with new product research and development or enhancements to existing products. You will also participate in sensory evaluations and trials of products.

Required Qualification

• Minimum Education: Bachelor s degree in food technology, Food Science, or a closely related field, or 4 years of relevant work experience.

Required Experience

• Industry Experience: Prior experience in food and beverage product development within a commercial setting is preferred, especially in tailoring products to meet specific client requirements.

Job Details

• Segment: Manufacturers, and Start-ups
• Sector: Food Beverages
• Job Title: Food Beverages Formulation Specialists
• Department: Food Research Lab
• Reports To: FRL Business Operations Head

Essential duties and responsibilities

• Product Development: Lead the development of new food and beverage products or the enhancement of existing ones, ensuring alignment with strategic business objectives and customer needs. Focus on specific products and projects with defined scopes, receiving direct guidance from the Senior Food Technologist.
• Formulation and Design: Develop and establish product formulations based on industry trends, market and consumer research, and customer requirements. Ensure product designs meet both internal and external expectations.
• Market and Technology Research: Continuously research markets and emerging technologies to innovate and develop new product concepts, staying ahead of industry trends.
• Product Testing and Commercialization: Support the entire product development process, from bench testing and scale-up to commercialization, following the guidelines established in the Project Initiation Request. This includes optimizing product attributes, controlling development and production costs, and adhering to timelines. Assist with scheduling plant tests and determining product disposal, with on-site support during tests to gain product and process experience.
• Nutritional, Regulatory, and Compliance Support: Ensure that all product formulations meet nutritional adequacy and compliance standards by applying statistical data from key raw materials by coordinating with nutritionists/dietitian. Develop label decks considering all potential processing locations and regulatory guidelines. Submit products for analytical or animal testing as required and summarize the results.
• Process and Supply Chain Support: Provide support for process optimization and supply chain initiatives, including formula transfers among plants and to consumers through SOP, evaluation of new raw material suppliers, and adjustments to existing materials and processing parameters. Assist in testing and troubleshooting to ensure consistent product quality.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Lead cross-functional teams throughout the new product development process, including briefing, ideation, exploration, and specification finalization.
• Project Management: Track and manage product development projects, regularly report on progress, and make actionable recommendations to ensure successful outcomes.
• Supplier Collaboration: Partner with external ingredient suppliers to achieve product development goals and explore opportunities for innovation.
• ISO 9001:2015 Compliance: Responsible for maintaining reports and documentation in compliance with ISO 9001:2015 standards, working closely with Quality Control (QC) to ensure all products meet regulatory and quality requirements.

Work Schedule

Full Time, Monday to Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Hours may vary on occasion, depending on workload.

Skills Required

• Project Management Organizational Skills: Exceptional ability to manage multiple client-driven projects simultaneously, ensuring timely delivery and adherence to specifications.
• Creative and Technical Expertise: Strong creative and technical skills, with the ability to innovate and develop customized food and beverage products that meet client specifications while maintaining safety and quality standards.
• Client-Focused Collaboration Communication: Highly adept at working closely with clients, understanding their needs, and effectively communicating and collaborating to develop products that meet their expectations. Comfortable establishing and maintaining strong client relationships throughout the development process.