Product Development Manager

COCO INVESTMENTS PTE. LTD.; Singapore; On-site; SGD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

COCO INVESTMENTS PTE. LTD. in Singapore seeks a leader to drive the development of strategic technology platforms and an R&D Center of Excellence across the region.

You will lead collaborations with universities, accelerate technology transfer, and partner with product development, manufacturing and operations to deliver customer-centric innovations.

This role requires 5+ years in food R&D, strong leadership, cross-cultural collaboration, and willingness to travel within the region.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s/Master’s/PhD in a relevant field.
• Minimum 5 years in food, beverage or ingredient R&D environments.
• Strong experience in technology development, applied research and innovation management.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary technical teams and cross-functional projects.
• Experience collaborating with universities, research institutes and external partners.
• Experience in technology transfer, commercialization and scale-up.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of strategic technology platforms and innovation capabilities for long-term growth.
• Identify and develop emerging technologies from concept to lab validation.
• Establish and lead R&D Center of Excellence across Singapore and Vietnam teams.
• Build collaborations with universities, institutes, startups, suppliers and external partners.
• Drive technology transfer, scale-up and commercialization with cross-functional teams.
• Lead customer co-creation with B2B customers through workshops and engagements.
• Support customer visits, innovation showcases and external stakeholder engagements.
• Contribute to company innovation strategy, portfolio and IP decisions.

Skills

Technology development

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Innovation management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's / Master's / PhD in Food Science or related

Job description

Job Responsibilities

• Lead the development of strategic technology platforms and innovation capabilities that support long-term business growth and competitive advantage
• Identify, assess and develop emerging technologies, ingredients and scientific advancements, from concept through proof-of-concept and laboratory validation.
• Establish and lead the R&D Center of Excellence by providing technical leadership, setting standards and building capabilities across Singapore and Vietnam R&D teams in the region.
• Build and manage strategic collaborations with universities, research institutes, startups, suppliers and external innovation partners to accelerate research and innovation.
• Drive technology transfer, scale-up and commercialization by partnering with Product Development, Manufacturing and Operations teams.
• Lead customer co-creation initiatives with strategic B2B customers, facilitating innovation workshops, technical engagements and collaborative development projects to generate customer-centric solutions and growth opportunities.
• Support customer visits, innovation showcases, technical presentations and external stakeholder engagements, representing the Singapore Innovation Center as a Global innovation hub.
• Contribute to the company's innovation strategy, portfolio development, intellectual property generation and technology investment decisions aligned with future business priorities.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor's / Master's Degree or PhD in Food Science, Food Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Nutrition, Biotechnology, Materials Science, or related disciplines.
• At least 5 years of experience in food, beverage, ingredient, or related R&D environments.
• Strong experience in technology development, applied research, and innovation management
• Experience leading multidisciplinary technical teams and cross-functional projects.
• Experience collaborating with universities, research institutes, and external innovation partners.
• Experience in technology transfer, commercialization, and scale-up activities.
• Experience working directly with B2B customers in innovation, application development, technical service, or co-creation projects.
• Experience facilitating customer workshops, technical presentations, and collaborative innovation programs.
• Regional or international R&D experience is highly preferred
• Strong leadership and influencing skills.
• Strategic thinking and innovation mindset.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Willingness to travel within the region when required.
• Ability to engage effectively with multinational customers, research partners, and cross-cultural teams.