R&D Group Manager - Beverage and Snacks

Nutri-Asia, Inc.; Cabuyao; On-site; PHP 2,600,000 - 4,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Nutri-Asia, Inc. is seeking a high-impact R&D Group Manager for Beverage & Snacks in Laguna, Philippines. You will lead technical direction, drive innovation, and ensure compliance from concept to commercialization.

You will manage multiple categories, align projects with business strategy, and mentor teams to strengthen capabilities in a fast-paced food manufacturing environment.

Qualifications

• Degree in BS Food Technology, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Packaging Engineering or related courses.
• Strong technical knowledge and strategic thinking for Beverage and Snacks.
• Experience in food manufacturing/beverage industry preferred.
• Demonstrated capability in R&D, product, process or packaging development.

Responsibilities

• Develops long-term R&D and technical roadmap for Beverage and Snacks categories.
• Translates business needs into technical strategies and priorities.
• Provides technical direction for product, process, packaging, and technology development.
• Evaluates new technologies, materials, ingredients, and market trends.
• Leads R&D projects from concept to commercialization and production normalization.
• Prioritizes projects, resources, and timelines based on business impact.
• Ensures compliance with regulatory, food safety, quality and governance standards.
• Balances innovation with cost, speed-to-market, and feasibility.
• Provides leadership to multiple teams aligning with R&D and business strategies.
• Develops capabilities through coaching, mentoring, and performance management.
• Fosters cross-functional collaboration with Marketing, Manufacturing, QA, Supply Chain, etc.

Education

BS Food Technology

Chemistry

Chemical Engineering

Packaging Engineering

Related courses

Job description

About the role

The R&D Group Manager - Beverage & Snacks provides strategic, technical, and people leadership for the Beverage and Snacks portfolio, driving innovation, renovation, optimization, quality, profitability, and technical excellence in support of sustainable business growth.

The R&D Group Manager owns the technical direction of assigned multiple categories/functions, leads the team in delivering projects from concept through commercialization, and ensures effective application of R&D standards, governance, technology, and best practices.

The role ensures all development activities comply with Food Safety Management System requirements and support safe, high-quality, and compliant product commercialization.

Key responsibilities

• Develops the long-term R&D and technical roadmap for the Beverage and Snacks categories, aligned with business strategy, consumer needs, market opportunities, and growth priorities.

• Translates business and consumer needs into technical strategies, innovation opportunities, and development priorities.

• Provides technical direction for product, process, packaging, technology, and/or application development.

• Evaluates emerging technologies, materials, ingredients, processes, packaging solutions, and market trends and determines their potential application to the portfolio.

• Leads the planning and execution of R&D projects from concept development through commercialization and production normalization.

• Prioritizes projects, resources, timelines, and technical activities based on business impact and organizational capacity.

• Ensures compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, corporate standards, product specifications, food safety, quality, and R&D governance.

• Balances innovation, quality, cost, speed-to-market, technical risk, and operational feasibility in making portfolio decisions.

• Provides overall leadership and direction to multiple teams, ensuring alignment of people, priorities, resources, and capabilities with R&D and business strategies.

• Develops and strengthens technical and leadership capabilities through coaching, mentoring, performance management, knowledge sharing, and targeted development plans.

About you

• Degree in BS Food Technology, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Packaging Engineering or related courses

• Minimum of twelve (12) years of relevant experience in food manufacturing / beverage industry, with at least eight (8) years in R&D/product, process and/or packaging development

• Minimum of four (4) years in a managerial or equivalent functional leadership role

• Strong technical knowledge and strategic thinking, innovation leadership specific to Beverage and Snacks

• Demonstrated experience managing multiple product categories, product platforms or a major R&D functional area, with responsibility for complex cross-functional projects and people development

• Complies to 5S, 6S, GMP, HACCP and FSMS requirements

• Advanced proficiency in relevant digital and analytical tools, including MS Office and other systems required for R&D

• Strong understanding of the business, category, consumer, market, competitive landscape, and industry trends

• Strong financial and commercial acumen, with the ability to analyze and interpret category and business financials

• Highly developed communication, influencing, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills

• Strong cross-functional and enterprise mindset, with a comprehensive understanding of how R&D integrates with Marketing, Manufacturing, QA/TQM, Supply Chain, Procurement, Finance, Regulatory, and other business functions