Product Development Manager, R&D

Betrimex Vietnam; Singapore; On-site; SGD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Betrimex Vietnam is seeking a senior R&D leader to drive strategic technology platforms and innovation across Singapore and Vietnam. You will lead multidisciplinary teams, build external partnerships, and oversee technology transfer from concept to commercialization.

You will shape the R&D Center of Excellence, manage collaborations with universities, research institutes, and suppliers, and guide the region's innovation investments and IP strategy. A strong travel-ready background is preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's/Master's/PhD in Food Science, Food Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Nutrition, Biotechnology, Materials Science, or related disciplines.
• 5+ years 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.

Responsibilities

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

Skills

Technology development

Applied research

Innovation management

Team leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

University collaboration

Technology transfer

Scale-up

Customer co-creation

Travel readiness

Education

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

Job description

• 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.

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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.