R&D Analyst — Food Innovation & Packaging

MBRF; Jeddah; On-site; SAR 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Job summary

MBRF in Jeddah seeks a motivated Food R&D professional to lead pilot plant trials, develop packaging concepts and maintain PPS documentation. You will coordinate trials, assess feasibility, and ensure regulatory compliance across products and markets.

The role requires 3+ years in food product development, a Bachelor's in Food Engineering or related field, fluency in English, and willingness to relocate to Jeddah if needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Engineering or a related discipline.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in the food industry, preferably in Product & Packaging R&D, Production, Quality or a related technical function.
• Knowledge of food product development, manufacturing processes, sensory evaluation, quality requirements and food safety practices; Middle East experience is an advantage.
• Fluent in English.
• Currently based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, or willing to relocate.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate daily pilot plant activities, including trial scheduling, ingredient and packaging readiness, equipment availability, housekeeping and safe execution
• Execute product and packaging trials, record results and assess technical feasibility, resource availability, costs and compliance with business, quality and regulatory requirements
• Create and maintain R&D documentation, including Product and Process Specifications (PPS), packaging and ingredient specifications, trial records and implementation follow-up
• Prepare and dispatch customer samples, monitor Global Accounts products and agreed follow-up actions, and coordinate technical follow-up with new clients
• Manage R&D inventory of ingredients, packaging materials and finished-product samples, ensuring accurate receipt, identification, storage, stock records, availability and expiry-date control
• Support product optimisation, portfolio maintenance and quality actions; research and benchmark new product categories, technologies and market opportunities
• Collaborate with Procurement and suppliers on cost-saving and alternative-supplier initiatives, including ingredient and packaging trials and technical evaluations; support agreed ESG-related R&D activities
• Prepare, support and document sensory evaluations and consumer research, working with Commercial, Marketing, Category, Brand, Innovation, Production, Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, customers and technical suppliers to deliver agreed project milestones

Skills

Fluent English

MS Office

Cross-functional collaboration

Project tracking experience

Food product development knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in Food Engineering or related discipline

Tools

Project tracking software

Sensory evaluation tools

Job description

MBRF in Jeddah seeks a motivated Food R&D professional to lead pilot plant trials, develop packaging concepts and maintain PPS documentation. You will coordinate trials, assess feasibility, and ensure regulatory compliance across products and markets.

The role requires 3+ years in food product development, a Bachelor's in Food Engineering or related field, fluency in English, and willingness to relocate to Jeddah if needed.