Sr. Product Development Manager

Oleo-Fats Inc. (OFI); Quezon City; On-site; PHP 1,800,000 - 2,600,000; Full time

Job summary

Oleo-Fats Incorporated, the Philippines' premier maker of specialty fats and ingredients, seeks a Senior Product Development leader to drive benchtop-to-factory execution.

You will lead a team translating client briefs into viable formulations across margarines, shortenings, frying oils, and bakery systems, while upholding FDA/Halal/FSSC standards and speed-to-market.

Qualifications

• BS or MS in Food Technology, Food Engineering, Chemistry, or Food Science.
• 8-12 years in B2B food product development, including 3-5+ years in a senior/managerial role handling fats, oils, bakery, or confectionery applications.
• In-depth knowledge of fat crystallization, emulsification systems, melting profiles (SFC), oxidation stability, and oil blending/fractionation techniques.
• Proven track record of taking benchtop formulas through plant trials to full commercial release.
• Strong commercial mindset with experience leading technical exchanges with B2B clients and industrial buyers.
• Thorough understanding of Halal certification, FSSC 22000, and Philippine FDA food labelling/composition standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end product development from customer brief and benchtop prototyping to sensory evaluation and final sign-off.
• Formulate specialty fats, emulsified shortenings, non-trans fat alternatives, and plant-based lipid systems for client applications.
• Oversee sensory panels, shelf-life studies, and physical/chemical characterizations of new products.
• Bridge bench scale and commercial production by leading pilot plant testing and full-scale manufacturing trials.
• Troubleshoot processing issues during line-scale-up with Plant Operations.
• Work directly with key accounts as a technical advisor to develop custom ingredient solutions.
• Conduct technical presentations, product demonstrations, and application trials at client sites or in-house centers.
• Lead Value Analysis/Value Engineering (VAVE) projects to optimize recipe costs and streamline SKUs.
• Partner with Procurement to test and qualify new vendors and alternative raw materials.
• Mentor and manage Product Technologists and Application Specialists.
• Ensure all new formulations adhere to Philippine FDA regulations, Halal compliance, HACCP, FSSC 22000.

Skills

Product development

Fat/oil systems

Pilot plant testing

Team leadership

Halal compliance

Regulatory knowledge

Client engagement

Cost optimization

Education

BS/MS in Food Technology/Engineering/Chemistry/Food Science

Job description

About the role

Lead the practical creation, reformulation, and commercial scaling of new food solutions. While R&D focuses on foundational lipid chemistry and research, this role centers on benchtop-to-factory execution, product application, client co-creation, and speed-to-market. You will manage a team of Product Developers and Food Technologists who translate customer briefs into viable formulations across specialty margarines, shortenings, frying oils, cocoa butter substitutes, and bakery/dairy systems.

Key responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end product development, from customer brief and benchtop prototyping to sensory evaluation and final sign-off

• Formulate specialty fats, emulsified shortenings, non-trans fat alternatives, and plant-based lipid systems for specific client applications (e.g., melt profile, aeration, frying stability, shelf life)

• Oversee sensory panels, shelf-life studies, and physical/chemical characterizations of new products

• Bridge bench scale and commercial production by leading pilot plant testing and full-scale manufacturing trials

• Troubleshoot processing issues (e.g., crystallization rates, texture inconsistencies, phase separation) during line scale-up with Plant Operations

• Work directly with key accounts (QSRs, industrial food plants) as a technical advisor to develop custom ingredient solutions

• Conduct technical presentations, product demonstrations, and application trials at client sites or in-house application centre.

• Lead Value Analysis/Value Engineering (VAVE) projects to optimize recipe costs, evaluate alternative raw oil supplies, and streamline ingredient SKU counts without compromising performance

• Partner with Procurement to test and qualify new vendors and alternative raw materials

• Mentor and manage Product Technologists and Application Specialists, driving project pipeline velocity and accountability

• Ensure all new formulations strictly adhere to Philippine FDA regulations, Halal compliance, HACCP, FSSC 22000, and client specifications

About you

• BS or MS in Food Technology, Food Engineering, Chemistry, or Food Science

• 8-12 years in B2B food product development, including 3-5+ years in a senior/managerial role handling fats, oils, bakery, or confectionery applications

• In-depth knowledge of fat crystallization, emulsification systems, melting profiles (SFC), oxidation stability, and oil blending/fractionation techniques

• Proven track record of taking benchtop formulas through plant trials to full commercial release

• Strong commercial mindset with experience leading technical exchanges with B2B clients and industrial buyers

• Thorough understanding of Halal certification, FSSC 22000, and Philippine FDA food labelling/composition standards

About us

Oleo-Fats Incorporated is the Philippines' premier manufacturer of specialty fats, oils, and customized food ingredients. We serve leading global fast-food chains, industrial bakeries, confectioners, and processed food manufacturers, turning complex client needs into tailored, market-ready ingredient systems.