R&D SPECIALIST

WK Services; Quezon City; On-site; PHP 350,000 - 550,000; Full time

Job summary

WK Services is seeking an R&D Specialist to develop and improve powdered beverages, sauces, fillings, condiments, and dressings. You will manage from bench trials to scale‑up, ensuring quality, cost, regulatory, and consumer satisfaction.

The role requires 2–3 years in food R&D, knowledge of ingredients and sensory evaluation, and hands‑on lab work with cross‑functional teams to drive commercialization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (Food Technology, Chemistry, or Chemical Engineering).
• 2–3 years R&D experience in the food industry with powdered beverages, sauces, or condiments.
• Knowledge of ingredients, emulsifiers, stabilizers, sensory evaluation, and product development.
• Experience with shelf-life testing and formulation software.

Responsibilities

• Develop new powder and liquid food products, incl beverages, sauces, condiments.
• Perform bench trials, prototypes, and support evaluations.
• Lead scale‑up, tech transfer, and cost/compliance checks.
• Conduct shelf‑life and sensory testing and document results.
• Collaborate with QA, Production, Marketing, Purchasing.
• Provide technical support for customer inquiries.

Skills

R&D experience in food industry

Sensory evaluation

Analytical & technical writing

Cross-functional coordination

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Food Technology / Chemistry / Chemical Engineering

Tools

Formulation software

Sensory evaluation equipment

Job description

About the role

The R&D Specialist will develop, improve, and maintain formulations for powdered beverages, sauces, fillings, condiments, and dressings. This hands‑on role will manage product development from bench trials and prototyping through scale‑up, commercialization, and technical transfer, ensuring products meet quality, cost, functionality, regulatory, and consumer expectations.

Key responsibilities

• Develop new food products in powder and liquid form, including beverages, sauces, fillings, condiments, and dressings.
• Conduct bench trials, prepare prototypes, and support internal and client evaluations.
• Ensure formulations are cost‑effective, scalable, compliant, and suitable for commercial production.
• Lead batch trials, initial commercial runs, and the technical transfer of approved products to Production and Quality Assurance.
• Maintain formulation integrity during scale‑up and troubleshoot formulation performance issues during manufacturing.
• Conduct shelf‑life, physical, chemical, and sensory testing under various storage conditions, documenting results and recommendations for packaging and storage.
• Assess new raw materials for functionality, quality, and cost, and work with Purchasing and Quality Assurance to qualify suppliers and establish specifications.
• Reformulate existing products to improve sensory properties, functional performance, or cost efficiency.
• Analyse market trends and benchmark products against competitors.
• Prepare technical data sheets, formulation sheets, nutritional labels, and other product development documentation.
• Lead internal taste panels, conduct structured sensory evaluations, and interpret results to guide product development and modifications.
• Ensure compliance with FDA requirements and internal quality systems, including GMP, HACCP, and FSSC standards.
• Maintain confidentiality and documentation integrity throughout product development and commercialization.
• Collaborate with Quality Assurance, Production, Marketing, and Purchasing throughout development, improvement, and commercialization activities.
• Provide technical support for customer inquiries and quality concerns.

What we’re looking for

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Technology, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
• At least 2–3 years of research and development experience in the food industry, preferably involving powdered beverage mixes, sauces, or condiments.
• Knowledge of food ingredients, emulsifiers, stabilizers, sensory evaluation, and product development and commercialization processes.
• Experience with shelf‑life testing, sensory evaluation, and formulation software or tools.
• Strong analytical, communication, technical writing, and documentation skills.
• Working knowledge of GMP, HACCP, FSSC, FDA regulations, and food quality systems.
• Ability to manage hands‑on laboratory work, coordinate cross‑functional activities, and support products through commercial production.

Salary and Benefits

Benefits and employment terms to be discussed during the interview.

Thank you!Qualified candidates will be contacted for an initial interview.

Join our team and contribute to building an effective, compliant, and people‑focused organization.