Manager Technical Services 1

DKSH; Petaling Jaya; On-site; MYR 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

DKSH is seeking an Innovation Center Manager and Technical Service Manager in Malaysia to drive product development, technical service excellence, and innovation strategy for the Food and Beverage Ingredients segment. You will manage the Innovation Center, guide technical teams, and partner with sales to deliver customer-focused solutions.

The role requires hands-on lab-to-pilot scale development, budgeting, vendor coordination, and leadership of a skilled technical service team inside a dynamic

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Technology or related field with proven working experience.
• 5–8 years in a similar role in the food ingredients or related industry.
• 2–3 years in a managerial capacity leading technical teams.
• Strong B2B commercial acumen with a technical and solution-oriented approach.
• Knowledge of food ingredients, additives, and flavours.
• Knowledge of food processing techniques and development.
• Familiarity with laboratory methods relevant to food formulation and testing.
• Strong communication, interpersonal and negotiation skills.
• Data analysis and market research capabilities; clear testing reports.
• Proficiency in MS Office; fluent in English.

Responsibilities

• Manage the operating Innovation Center budget and costs.
• Monitor formulation guidelines and drive product improvements.
• Oversee formulation from lab to pilot scale for reliable outcomes.
• Drive implementation of development projects to meet schedules.
• Compile trends and opportunities from ingredients and processes.
• Manage technical training programs for the sales team.
• Ensure lab equipment maintenance and safety compliance.
• Co-visit key customers to provide expert technical advice.
• Manage the library of ingredient and flavour samples.
• Oversee technical service team performance and productivity.
• Lead learning and development in Research and Analysis.

Skills

B2B acumen

Technical mindset

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Negotiation

Data analysis

Market research

MS Office

English fluency

Problem solving

Lab methods

Leadership

Food ingredients

Education

Bachelor's in Food Technology or related field

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Microsoft PowerPoint

Job description

About The Role

The Innovation Center Manager and Technical Service Manager leads DKSH's Performance Materials innovation function within the Food and Beverage Ingredients business line in Malaysia, driving product development, technical service excellence, and innovation strategy in alignment with business objectives. This role is pivotal in shaping DKSH's value proposition to customers through applied food science expertise, technical consultancy, and effective management of the Innovation Center.

What You Will Deliver

• Manage the operating Innovation Center (InnoC) budget and costs in accordance with annual allocation to ensure efficient and responsible use of resources
• Monitor product formulation guidelines and procedure compliance to drive improvements in existing products, reduce costs, enhance performance, and simplify manufacturing processes
• Manage product formulation across laboratory-scale and pilot-scale testing to deliver reliable and high-quality technical outcomes for customers
• Drive the implementation of product development projects to ensure efficient resource planning and on-time delivery against project schedules
• Compile and review the latest product trends, ingredients, and new development processes to identify and capture product improvement opportunities
• Manage technical training programs for the sales team to strengthen their technical capabilities and deepen product knowledge
• Ensure laboratory equipment maintenance and safety protocol adherence so that all product designs consistently meet safety and regulatory requirements
• Co-visit key customers alongside the sales team to provide expert technical advice and tailored solutions that address specific customer needs
• Manage the library of ingredient and flavour samples to support external sampling activities and internal application studies
• Manage and oversee the technical service team's performance and productivity, driving execution against business goals and market expectations
• Lead the learning and development of the team in Research and Analysis to achieve the business line's objectives and build long-term capability

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Food Technology or a related field, with proven working experience
• Minimum 5 to 8 years of experience in a similar role within the food ingredients or related industry
• Minimum 2 to 3 years of experience in a managerial capacity leading technical teams
• Strong business-to-business (B2B) commercial acumen with a technical and solution-oriented approach to customer engagement
• Working knowledge of the food industry, food products, and related market dynamics
• Knowledge and hands-on experience with food ingredients, additives, and flavours across diverse applications
• Knowledge and practical experience in food processing techniques and application development
• Familiarity with scientific, chemical, and laboratory methods relevant to food formulation and testing
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and negotiation skills, with proven problem-solving capability
• Ability to analyze data, conduct market research, and produce clear testing reports and presentations
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
• Fluent in English, both written and spoken

Why Join DKSH

At DKSH, we help companies grow in Asia and enable people to perform at their best. You will be part of an organization that values accountability, collaboration, and long-term partnerships. We offer a dynamic environment where your contributions are visible and where you can build a meaningful career in Innovation and Technical Service.