R&D Manager (Food)

To drive innovation and excellence in food product development, ensuring that every item meets the highest standards of taste, quality, and cost-effectiveness. Open to candidates that has experience across: * Frozen Food / Ready-to-Cook * Sauces, Seasonings & Marinades * Processed & Packaged Food * Snacks & Dessert

Commercial Research and Development Manager – Food

Salary: Competitive and based on experience

Location: Jakarta

Keywords: product development, food science, collaboration, quality assurance, supplier coordination, project management, commercialisation, technical feasibility, documentation, continuous improvement

A leading organisation in the food industry is seeking a Commercial Research and Development Manager to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of their product portfolio. This position offers you the opportunity to drive innovation and excellence in food product development, ensuring that every item meets the highest standards of taste, quality, and cost-effectiveness. You will be at the heart of cross-functional collaboration, working closely with marketing, quality assurance, supply chain management, and external partners to bring new products to market smoothly and efficiently. The company values your expertise in managing complex projects and your commitment to continuous improvement, offering you an environment where your contributions are recognised and your professional growth is supported through ongoing training opportunities and flexible working arrangements. If you are passionate about making a tangible impact on consumers’ lives through exceptional food products, this is your chance to join a supportive team dedicated to excellence.

• • Join a respected leader in the food sector where your experience in research and development will directly influence product success, from concept through commercialisation, ensuring every launch is both impactful and rewarding for your career.
• • Benefit from a collaborative workplace culture that encourages knowledge sharing across departments such as marketing, quality assurance, supply chain management, and supplier networks, giving you exposure to diverse perspectives and challenges.
• • Enjoy flexible working opportunities and access to ongoing training programmes designed to help you stay at the forefront of industry trends while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

What you'll do:

As a Commercial Research and Development Manager – Food, you will be entrusted with guiding multiple projects from initial concept through to successful commercialisation. Your day-to-day activities will involve close collaboration with marketing teams to align product innovations with consumer trends while ensuring technical feasibility through detailed specification management. You will coordinate sensory panels and validation exercises with both internal stakeholders and external partners such as suppliers or ODMs. Your responsibilities extend beyond development; you will also support claims substantiation efforts by preparing robust documentation packages for regulatory review. When challenges arise—whether related to quality or process—you will work alongside QA/SCM colleagues to resolve issues efficiently. Success in this role means consistently delivering projects on time, within budget targets, and at high levels of quality stability. Your ability to manage complex timelines while fostering open communication across departments will be essential for driving continuous improvement within the R&D function.

• Oversee the entire pipeline for new product development and renovation projects by managing specifications, technical feasibility assessments, and timelines to ensure successful launches.
• Coordinate sensory evaluations and quality validations with internal teams as well as external suppliers or original design manufacturers (ODMs), guaranteeing that all products meet established standards before scaling up production.
• Support claims substantiation processes by preparing comprehensive documentation that aligns with regulatory requirements and internal policies.
• Collaborate closely with suppliers and ODMs during pilot runs and scale-up phases to address any technical challenges swiftly and effectively.
• Work hand-in-hand with quality assurance, supply chain management, and other relevant departments to troubleshoot quality issues as they arise, implementing corrective actions promptly to maintain product integrity.
• Monitor key performance indicators such as on-time/in-full delivery of development projects, target cost achievement rates, complaint reduction metrics, issue resolution lead-times, and technical gate pass rates.
• Ensure all products achieve technical success in the market by focusing on feasibility studies, quality stability testing, and readiness assessments prior to launch.
• Maintain rigorous project management discipline throughout each stage of development by tracking progress against milestones and proactively addressing potential risks or delays.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives within the R&D function by analysing feedback from market performance data and implementing lessons learned into future projects.

What you bring:

In this Commercial Research and Development Manager – Food position, your extensive experience within FMCG environments equips you with deep insights into the complexities of bringing new products from ideation through commercialisation. Your academic background in food science or engineering ensures that you possess both theoretical understanding and practical know-how when it comes to technical feasibility assessments. You are adept at building relationships across functions—whether collaborating with marketing on consumer insights or partnering with QA/SCM on troubleshooting initiatives—which makes you an invaluable connector within the organisation. Your fluency in multiple languages enhances your ability to bridge gaps between local teams and international partners. With a disciplined approach towards project management and documentation control, you consistently deliver results that exceed expectations while upholding rigorous standards for safety, compliance, and quality. Your empathetic communication style fosters trust among colleagues while encouraging shared accountability for project outcomes.

• A degree in Food Science, Food Technology or Engineering provides you with the foundational knowledge required for this specialised role.
• You have accumulated between seven to twelve years of hands-on experience in fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) research and development commercialisation environments.
• Your background includes significant exposure to working with original design manufacturers (ODMs) or suppliers on joint product development initiatives.
• Exceptional project management skills enable you to handle multiple concurrent projects while maintaining meticulous attention to detail in documentation practices.
• Proficiency in both Business English and Bahasa Indonesia allows you to communicate effectively across multicultural teams and external partners.
• You demonstrate strong interpersonal abilities that foster co-operation among cross-functional teams including marketing, QA/SCM, suppliers, and external agencies.
• A proven track record of supporting claims substantiation processes ensures that all regulatory documentation is accurate and complete prior to product launch.
• Your analytical mindset helps you identify root causes of quality issues quickly so that corrective actions can be implemented without delay.
• Experience monitoring key performance indicators such as OTIF delivery rates or complaint reduction metrics enables you to measure project success objectively.

What sets this company apart:

This organisation stands out as a trusted name in the food industry due to its unwavering commitment to delivering high-quality products that delight consumers across diverse markets. Employees benefit from a culture rooted in collaboration where every voice is valued—regardless of department or seniority—and where teamwork drives collective success. The company invests heavily in professional development through structured training programmes designed not only to enhance technical skills but also nurture leadership capabilities at every level. Flexible working arrangements empower staff members to balance personal commitments with professional ambitions without compromising either. By joining this team, you become part of an inclusive network that celebrates diversity while championing sustainable business practices aimed at long-term growth for both employees and communities alike.

What's next:

If you are ready to make a meaningful impact on the future of food innovation while advancing your career within a supportive environment, we encourage you to take the next step today!

Apply today by clicking on the link provided—your journey towards shaping tomorrow’s food experiences starts here.

Due to the high volume of applications we are experiencing, our team will only be in touch with you if your application is shortlisted.