Head of Research And Development & Quality

Recrivio; Gurugram District; On-site; INR 1,800,000 - 2,400,000; Full time

Job summary

Recrivio is seeking a Head – R&D & Quality in India to lead end-to-end quality assurance, quality control, food safety, laboratory operations, and quality systems across its dairy, edible oils, honey, grains, and superfoods portfolio. You will report to the Founders/CEO and shape quality standards across manufacturing partners and new product launches.

The ideal candidate combines deep technical expertise with strong vendor management, regulatory compliance, and team leadership capabilities, in

Qualifications

• 10+ years in Quality Assurance / Quality Control within a large-scale FMCG organization.
• Strong command of FSSAI regulations, ISO 22000 / FSSC 22000, HACCP, GMP, and GHP.
• Experience in supplier qualification, manufacturing audits, and process validation.
• Hands-on with QMS, SOPs, CAPA, audits, and quality dashboards.

Responsibilities

• Lead quality due diligence, onboarding audits, and periodic assessments of manufacturing vendors and co-manufacturers.
• Ensure compliance with FSSAI Schedule 4, ISO 22000 / FSSC 22000, HACCP, GMP, and applicable food safety standards.
• Define raw material specifications, testing protocols, and supplier quality benchmarks.
• Conduct process trials, identify quality gaps, and implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
• Establish specs, SOPs, checklists, and quality records for every SKU, vendor, and operating unit.
• Own product quality escalations from investigation through resolution and drive root-cause analysis.

Skills

Vendor management

Regulatory knowledge

Quality systems

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Education

M.Sc./M.Tech in Food Technology

Ph.D. (advantage)

Job description

Experience: 10+ years | FMCG / Food Industry

About the Opportunity

We are hiring for a rapidly growing, investor-backed Indian consumer food brand operating in the clean-label, farm-to-consumer segment. With a strong presence across leading e-commerce platforms, quick-commerce channels, D2C, and modern retail, the company is building a trusted portfolio of traditional Indian food products.

The organization works closely with a large network of rural producers and is focused on delivering quality, authenticity, traceability, and food safety at scale.

Role Overview

The Head – R&D & Quality will lead end-to-end quality assurance, quality control, food safety, laboratory operations, and quality systems across the company's product portfolio, including dairy products, edible oils, honey, grains, and superfoods.

Reporting directly to the Founders / CEO, the role will own quality standards across manufacturing partners, packaging and dispatch units, and new product launches. The ideal candidate will combine deep technical expertise with strong vendor management, regulatory compliance, and team leadership capabilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead quality due diligence, onboarding audits, and periodic assessments of manufacturing vendors and co-manufacturers.
• Ensure compliance with FSSAI Schedule 4, ISO 22000 / FSSC 22000, HACCP, GMP, and applicable food safety standards.
• Define raw material specifications, testing protocols, and supplier quality benchmarks.
• Conduct process trials, identify quality gaps, and implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).

2. Packaging, Storage & Dispatch Quality

• Establish and enforce quality standards across packaging, warehousing, and dispatch operations.
• Develop SOPs for material receipt, handling, storage, packing, hygiene, and transportation.
• Oversee packaging material quality, in-process checks, and finished-product integrity.
• Conduct internal audits and ensure compliance across operational facilities.

3. Laboratory & Testing Operations

• Develop batch-wise testing plans covering product categories, parameters, and testing frequency.
• Manage third-party NABL-accredited laboratories, ensuring accuracy, turnaround time, and adherence to testing requirements.
• Establish and manage in-house laboratory infrastructure, equipment calibration, testing protocols, and good laboratory practices.
• Maintain accurate, audit-ready quality and testing documentation.

4. Quality Systems & Team Leadership

• Develop annual quality plans, audit calendars, testing budgets, and certification roadmaps.
• Establish specifications, SOPs, checklists, and quality records for every SKU, vendor, and operating unit.
• Implement or enhance quality management software and reporting dashboards.
• Build, mentor, and lead quality assurance, quality control, and laboratory teams.

5. Consumer Complaints & Root-Cause Analysis

• Own product quality escalations from investigation through resolution.
• Drive batch traceability, root-cause analysis, and corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
• Ensure timely resolution of complaints and continuous improvement in consumer experience.

6. R&D Collaboration & Stakeholder Management

• Partner with Sourcing, NPD, and Operations teams to establish quality standards for new vendors and product launches.
• Support product scale-up and ensure seamless transition from development to commercial production.
• Collaborate with research institutions and specialist laboratories on raw material quality, authenticity, and testing methodologies.
• Present quality performance, risks, research findings, and improvement plans to the Founders and senior leadership.

Key Performance Indicators

• Vendor audit coverage and timely CAPA closure.
• Supplier quality scores and batch rejection / deviation rates.
• Adherence to batch testing plans and testing turnaround times.
• Audit compliance and closure of critical non-conformities.
• Regulatory documentation and certification readiness.
• Consumer quality complaints, resolution timelines, and recurrence rates.

What We’re Looking For

• Experience: 10+ years in Quality Assurance / Quality Control within a large-scale FMCG organization, preferably with annual revenues of ₹1,000 crore or more.
• Industry Expertise: Strong experience in food, dairy, edible oils, packaged staples, or related consumer products.
• Education: M.Sc. / M.Tech in Food Technology, Food Science, Microbiology, Dairy Technology, or a related discipline. A Ph.D. is an added advantage.
• Vendor Management: Demonstrated expertise in supplier qualification, manufacturing audits, co-manufacturer management, and process validation.
• Regulatory Knowledge: Strong command of FSSAI regulations, ISO 22000 / FSSC 22000, HACCP, GMP, and GHP.
• Laboratory Expertise: Experience with chemical and microbiological testing, laboratory operations, and third-party testing partners.
• Quality Systems: Hands-on experience with QMS, SOPs, root-cause analysis, CAPA, audits, and quality dashboards.
• Leadership: Proven ability to lead quality teams across multiple manufacturing facilities or external manufacturing partners.
• Stakeholder Management: Strong collaboration skills across Sourcing, R&D / NPD, and Operations, with the ability to engage effectively with founders and senior management.

Preferred: Lead Auditor certification in ISO 22000 / FSSC 22000 and experience with D2C, e-commerce, quick-commerce, or modern retail quality requirements.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

• Report directly to the Founders / CEO and own quality across the entire product portfolio.
• Build scalable quality systems, laboratory capabilities, and vendor standards for a high-growth consumer brand.
• Play a strategic role in product innovation, food safety, and consumer trust.
• Work closely with an extensive producer network in an investor-backed growth environment.