Director- Research and Development

As a leading provider of high-quality food and beverage ingredients, we work with farming communities across the globe to grow, source and produce ingredients that are good for consumers, farmers, and the world around us. We supply household food brands and manufacturers worldwide with cocoa, coffee, dairy, nuts and spices ingredients which are often grown on our own farms and estates and sourced from hundreds of thousands of farmers across ~50 countries. Along with our diverse manufacturing and innovation capabilities, this means we can provide ingredients for a range of products, from a plant-based latte mix to an almond based snack bar or a dairy-free ice cream. Making a positive impact on people and planet is a core component of our Purpose, to be the change for good food and a healthy future. With a deep-rooted presence in the countries where our ingredients are grown, we are closer to farmers, enabling better quality, and more reliable, traceable, and transparent supply. And whoever we’re with, whatever we’re doing, we always make it real .

Overview of the role

• The position will lead the Asian Ingredients and Technology Excellence (IEC) for Cocoa.
• Responsible for the Cocoa IEC (Ingredients Excellence Center) and part of Global Cocoa IEC, expected to build an Asian innovation and solution-based ingredients portfolio which is relevant for our Asian customers and value added for ofi. A successful implementation of optimized or new technology within Asia is part of the game.
• Work closely with the Singapore Cocoa Plant Operations, Cocoa Ingredient Excellence Center (IEC) in Netherlands (Koog), Product Line Managers, Quality Department, Commercial team and and provide fact-based insights and advise on the existing cocoa ingredients to optimize the current portfolio of cocoa ingredients and support decision making.
• Technical lead in terms of cocoa knowledge, capabilities and ensure that we provide cocoa related innovation and solutions to our customers are at highest possible quality within the shortest possible time.
• Lead the development of new cocoa ingredients or technologies for the Asian market based on the business needs and in close collaboration with the IEC Koog and the factories in Singapore and Indonesia.
• Collaborate closely with Quality Management and Operations and actively search for ways to simplify the portfolio of ingredients. This includes identifying and collaborating around routing, raw material and process improvement initiatives that reduce cost and complexity in the existing portfolio of ingredients. Proficiency in using multiple systems including SAP, Sales Force or other relevant programs will important.
• Responsible for the Asian technical ingredient portfolio management. This includes monitoring and optimizing the cocoa ingredient portfolio in close collaboration with the Product Line Managers, IEC and Quality department. Identifying gaps in our portfolio as well as deep understanding of the performance of the existing ingredients to ensure a complete and technically relevant portfolio of ingredients.
• Work closely with the Commercial teams to identify relevance of specifications for customers and relates ingredient performance in application to internal specifications. Lead improvements in product specifications addressing efficient business processes. The key to success is the speed and quality in response to supporting the Sales in their feedback to customers.
• The position oversees and supports various quality and regulatory initiatives throughout the region. Supporting the cocoa portfolio, especially focused on the cocoa powder producing plant in Singapore and Indonesia.
• Innovation is a key focus for ofi and this position will be responsible for developing the cocoa innovation strategy for the Asian market.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop Asian customer-based Cocoa ingredients excellence and create innovation, technology, applications and solutions for Asian customers.
• Work closely with the IEC Koog to support new product introductions or technologies and actively come up with suggestions to improve the Asia ingredient portfolio in terms of functionality and value.
• Leverage core cocoa specialists for building solutions for customers.
• Build new or improved ingredients and technologies for products to increase both sales and stickiness for our powder customers.
• Understand, bring in, develop opportunities through ingredients expertise for increasing butter and liquor sales.
• Create R&D efforts for developing cocoa based new products such as new blends of liquors, butters, powders, Cocoa nib and pulp-based sweeteners, etc.
• IEC will leverage common facilities of CSC in order to coordinate and collaborate effectively.

Qualification & other requirements

• A MSc or PhD degree in Food Technology or Food Chemistry. MBA or equivalent commercial qualification would be desirable.
• Proven capability in a similar senior leadership role in Product Development/R&D in the B2B or B2C in the cocoa or chocolate industry with a minimum of 13 to 17 years of experience. Additional experience in the bakery industry is a plus.
• An expert in ingredient functionality and have a track record working on complex food systems. Proficient to transform ideas into bespoke and solution driven concepts.
• Used to developing and maintaining professional relationships with customers based on capabilities, knowledge and drive to make things happen. Develop and give presentations to customers at all levels.
• Proven leadership skills to