Analytical Manager – Food & Beverages

Position PurposeThe Analytical Manager leads analytical testing and method development to support product development, ingredient assessment, troubleshooting, and regulatory technical requirements for beverage and food products. The role ensures that laboratory work is scientifically sound, traceable, timely, and performed in accordance with approved procedures, applicable regulations, and recognized analytical standards.Key ResponsibilitiesAnalytical laboratory leadership: Plan and prioritize testing activities, manage sample workflows, maintain reliable records, and support effective use of laboratory resources.Instrumental analysis: Perform and oversee analysis using HPLC (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography), IC (Ion Chromatography), and GC (Gas Chromatography), including routine checks, troubleshooting, and coordination of maintenance.Food and beverage testing: Analyze raw materials, ingredients, intermediate samples, and finished products for relevant parameters such as sugars, sweeteners, preservatives, organic acids, caffeine, vitamins, ions, and other product-specific compounds.Method development and validation: Develop, optimize, verify, validate, and transfer analytical methods; assess suitability for intended use and document performance characteristics such as precision, accuracy, linearity, selectivity, LOD, and LOQ where applicable.Data interpretation and investigations: Review chromatograms and analytical data, investigate unexpected or out-of-specification results, identify potential causes, and document conclusions and follow-up actions.Reporting and documentation: Issue clear, accurate, traceable analytical reports; maintain raw data, calculations, instrument logs, calibration records, controlled methods, and sample traceability.Regulatory technical support: Prepare analytical evidence and technical documentation for product registrations, technical dossiers, customer requests, and communication with SFDA and other relevant authorities, as required.Standards and laboratory practices: Apply relevant SFDA/GCC requirements, recognized ISO and AOAC methods where appropriate, good laboratory practices, data-integrity principles, and applicable safety procedures.Capability development: Expand in-house analytical capabilities, evaluate new methods and equipment, support proficiency testing or inter-laboratory comparisons where applicable, and reduce unnecessary reliance on external laboratories.Cross-functional collaboration: Provide analytical findings and technical recommendations to R&D; and collaborate with Quality, Production, and other departments when needed, without changing the role’s reporting line within R&D.;Confidentiality: Protect recipes, formulations, customer information, and proprietary analytical data.Qualifications and ExperienceBachelor’s or Master’s degree in Analytical Chemistry, Chemistry, Food Chemistry, Food Science, or a closely relateddiscipline.Typically 5+ years of relevant analytical laboratory experience, preferably in the food and beverage industry, includingexperience taking responsibility for laboratory activities or technical projects.R&D Department | Analytical Manager Page 1Demonstrated hands-on experience with HPLC and GC; practical IC experience is strongly preferred. Candidates shouldbe able to explain their personal role in operating, troubleshooting, and interpreting results from these instruments.Experience developing, verifying, validating, and troubleshooting analytical methods for food or beverage matrices.Experience preparing technical reports, controlled procedures, and scientifically defensible interpretations of results.Working knowledge of applicable SFDA and GCC food regulations and relevant international analytical standards.Knowledge of ISO/IEC 17025 requirements is an advantage, particularly method validation, equipment control,traceability, and technical records.Technical SkillsChromatographic instrument operation, troubleshooting, and data interpretation.Sample preparation, standards and reagents management, calibration, quality-control checks, and traceable calculations.Method validation and verification, including precision, accuracy, linearity, selectivity, and detection/quantification limitsas applicable.Technical report writing, data review, investigation of anomalous results, and clear presentation of conclusions.Laboratory equipment care, maintenance planning, and coordination with service providers.Leadership and Professional CompetenciesStrong attention to detail, scientific judgement, integrity, and data accuracy.Ability to plan workloads, set priorities, and deliver results within agreed timelines.Ability to work independently, solve technical problems, and provide evidence-based recommendations.Clear written and verbal communication in English; ability to explain technical findings to non-specialists.Professional communication with customers, service providers, and regulatory authorities when authorized.Commitment to confidentiality, safe laboratory practices, continuous improvement, and knowledge sharing.Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)Timeliness and completeness of analytical reports.Reliability and reproducibility of results, including compliance with established QC acceptance criteria.Completion and successful implementation of analytical method development, verification, and validation projects.Reduction in external testing through validated, fit-for-purpose in-house methods where technically and economicallyjustified.Compliance with approved methods, documentation, equipment-control, and traceability requirements.Timely investigation and documentation of analytical discrepancies and unexpected results.Instrument availability and completion of scheduled checks and maintenance coordination.Role BoundariesThis position belongs to the R&D Department and reports to the R&D Director. Its primary accountability is analytical laboratory capability and technical support for R&D. The role collaborates with Quality and other functions when required; it does not assume ownership of the Quality Department.