R&D Manager (F&B)

Randstad; Johor Bahru; On-site; MYR 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A well-established food and beverage manufacturer in Johor is seeking a senior R&D Manager to lead product development initiatives and manage the R&D team. The ideal candidate will have at least 8 years of R&D experience in food or beverage manufacturing, along with a strong understanding of HACCP and GMP standards. This role involves collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure product quality, managing sensory testing, and evaluating new ingredients. A Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field is mandatory.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years of R&D experience in food or beverage manufacturing.
• Experience in product formulation, scale-up, and commercialization.
• Strong understanding of HACCP, GMP, and regulatory/labelling requirements.
• Excellent communication, project management, and leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead new product development (NPD) and product improvement initiatives.
• Conduct formulation, pilot trials, and scale-up to production.
• Continuously improve product attributes such as flavour and stability.
• Manage sensory evaluation, product testing, and consumer feedback studies.
• Collaborate closely with QA/QC, Production, Procurement, and Marketing teams.
• Ensure compliance with food safety standards and Halal requirements.
• Evaluate new ingredients and suppliers as well as cost-reduction opportunities.
• Supervise and coach the R&D team to meet project timelines.
• Maintain technical documentation such as formulations and stability reports.
• Protect and manage product intellectual property.

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Chemistry, or related discipline

Job description

Job Details

about the company
Our client is a well-established food and beverage manufacturer based in Johor, specialising in the development and production of a diverse range of beverages for both in-house and international brands. With a strong commitment to innovation, quality, and Halal compliance, the company continuously invests in research and development to meet evolving consumer tastes and market trends.

about the job

• Lead new product development (NPD) and product improvement initiatives for in-house and OEM/ODM brands.
• Conduct formulation, pilot trials, and scale-up to production, ensuring all process parameters are validated.
• Continuously improve product attributes such as flavour, shelf life, nutrition profile, and stability.
• Manage sensory evaluation, product testing, and consumer feedback studies.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including QA/QC, Production, Procurement, and Marketing.
• Ensure compliance with food safety standards (HACCP, GMP) and other local regulatory and Halal requirements.
• Evaluate new ingredients, suppliers, and cost-reduction opportunities.
• Supervise and coach the R&D team to meet project timelines and objectives.
• Maintain technical documentation such as formulations, SOPs, and stability reports.
• Protect and manage product intellectual property.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Chemistry, or related discipline.
• Minimum 8 years of R&D experience in food or beverage manufacturing.
• Experinece in product formulation, scale-up, and commercialisation.
• Strong understanding of HACCP, GMP, and regulatory/labelling requirements.
• Excellent communication, project management, and leadership skills.

Skills

no additional skills required

Qualification

no additional qualifications required

Education

Bachelor Degree