Research And Development Manager - Savory Segment

Take end-to-end responsibility for the Savory sector (R&D formulations and application testing), establish Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the Savory R&D department, ensure the technical quality of finished products, and collaborate closely with the Sales team to provide B2B solutions for clients.KEY RESPONSIBILITIES1. Savory R&D & Formulation (40%)Research & Innovation: Directly develop, innovate, and master formulations for key Savory product lines: Seasoning powders, Sauces/Dressings, Bouillon/Seasoning bases, Flavor enhancers, Extracts...Reverse Engineering / Target Matching: Analyze, deconstruct formulations, and accurately recreate target Taste Profiles based on competitor samples or specific requests from B2B clients.Sensory Evaluation: Conduct in-depth sensory evaluations, precisely fine-tuning flavor profiles (salty, sweet, umami, kokumi) and product structures.Cost-in-use Optimization: Research raw material substitutes to reduce production costs while maintaining committed quality standards.2. Food Application & Pilot Trial (20%)Application Testing: Apply Savory raw materials and flavors directly into real food matrices (Instant noodles, Snacks, Savory confectionery, Processed foods, Sausages/Processed meat...).Stability Assessment: Test additive/flavor interactions, thermal stability, shelf-life, and physical/chemical changes during processing.Scale-up & Specs: Transfer technology from Lab scale Pilot / Mass Production, and establish technical product specifications (Product Specifications).3. Setup & Standardize R&D Processes (15%)SOP Development: Establish a full set of operating procedures for the Savory Lab: Receiving briefs from Sales, sample management/storage, formulation testing procedures, and sensory evaluations.Data & Formulation Governance: Standardize storage and security protocols for formulas (BOM), raw material coding, and benchmark sample catalogs (Target samples).Cross-functional Collaboration: Build standardized cross-departmental workflows between Savory R&D, Sales, Sourcing/Purchasing, and QA/QC.4. Product Ownership & Commercial Success (15%)Technical Sign-off: Review and grant final technical approval for all Savory formulations and samples before sending to B2B clients or commercial production.Commercial Compliance: Guarantee 100% of products meet food safety standards, regulatory requirements (MoH/FNS), shelf-life stability, and cost-in-use efficiency.Troubleshooting: Lead technical issue resolution for problems (flavor distortion, phase separation, caking...) encountered during client application trials.5. Commercial & Sales Support (10%)Technical Advisor for Sales: Act as a technical expert to address complex inquiries from B2B clients brought in by the Sales team.Product Demos & Presentations: Actively participate in presentations, product demos, or technical mechanism explanations during key client meetings alongside Sales.JOB REQUIREMENTS1. Qualifications & ExperienceBachelor's degree or higher in Food Technology, Food Chemistry, Bioengineering, or related fields.Minimum 05 years of hands-on experience in Savory R&D/Application. Mandatory prior experience in Ingredient & Flavor Houses or major FMCG corporations.2. Core ExpertiseDeep understanding of savory food chemistry, Maillard reaction, flavor generation mechanisms, and interactions among additives, food, and animal extracts.Excellent sensory evaluation skills with expert-level ability to identify and fine-tune flavor notes.Proficient in Savory application techniques across diverse food bases (Snacks, Sauces, Meat processing, Instant noodles, Bouillon...).Systemic Thinking: Proven experience setting up and standardizing SOPs for R&D/Lab environments.Product Ownership Mindset: Full accountability for the quality, technical feasibility, and commercial success of final products.