R&d Assistant Manager

Job summary:

- Lead and provide support to team members so that they can achieve maximum performance.
- To initiate and lead the development of new product innovation derived from global consumer awareness trends, new technical information, or regulatory change opportunities.
- To understand and use nutritional or functional ingredients and develop new innovative products in health and wellness space.
- To lead collaborations with external parties like research institutes, suppliers and other departments for creating health and wellness products.

**Job responsibilities**

**Manage Development Team**
- Lead Development team and provide guidance or support to team members as needed, in collaboration with relevant departments. Take responsibility for the progress of projects assigned to your team and complete them on time.
- Collaborate with related departments to carry out projects that contribute to the company's profits. Tackle and solve challenging technical problems required for innovative new products.
- Negotiate with internal and external stakeholders to resolve various issues for new product development.

**NPD for nutritional or health functional category.**
- Develop relationship with raw material suppliers or research institutions to obtain the latest information and explore collaboration opportunities for innovation.
- Plan and lead innovative NPD in cooperation with related departments. Utilizing his/her expertise, he/she will develop recipes that achieve the necessary health functions or claims.
- Evidence necessary to strengthen products will be found in academic papers or obtained through collaborations with universities and other institutions.

**Technical Support**
- Design product specifications or develop product claims using his expertise in nutritional science for other members.
- Support regulatory request from Marketing, International Sales Department, Sales and QA department.
- Lead members with challenging projects by using their own knowledge or experience to provide technical solutions to them

**System Management**
- Supports the establishment of R&D knowledge management. Directs the members to carry out the actual activities.
- Review and improve the workflow for operations that cross multiple departments in consultation with the relevant departments.

**Mentor other R&D members**
- Provide members with a roadmap to achieve their goals and support each member by setting clear goals and giving the right feedback.
- Provide ongoing support to keep members motivated and encourage active behaviour.

**Requirements to excel in this position**

**Education and Experience**
- Degree in Food Science & Technology or equivalent
- Minimum 10 years of relevant experience in development new products. In particular, experience with functional foods is desirable
- Experience in product formulation, factory processing & production, food regulation, raw materials sourcing, communicating with local government bodies.
- Leading R&D team or members and challenging innovative project with collaboration of 3rd parties.

**Professional Qualifications**
- Understand scientific articles on nutritional or health functions and be able to design functional food formulations using the data contained therein.
- Possess basic knowledge of food processing and be able to discuss on equal terms with manufacture and QC departments.
- Knowledge of basic marketing, such as 3C, 4P or STP, and the skills to develop planning proposals.
- Project management skill against risk, timeline, workforce and negotiation.
- Knowledge and understanding of food regulations in Singapore and Malaysia. Basic knowledge of other countries is desirable.
**- Able to start work immediately or at short notice **would be preferred