Research And Development Specialist

Key Responsibilities 1. Product & Formulation Development (Focus on Innovation)• Design, formulate, and optimize innovative dry mix and premix products-from bench-top concepts to full commercial scale-with an emphasis on driving new product categories beyond traditional lines.• Conduct rigorous raw material screening, sourcing, and evaluation to optimize functionality, cost-efficiency, and product quality.• Execute sensory evaluations, shelf-life studies, and analytical testing on experimental batches.2. Cross-Functional Synergy & Commercial Alignment. Marketing & Sales Collaboration: Partner closely with Sales and Marketing to analyze market trends, review customer feedback, and evaluate commercial viability. Participate in technical sales calls to define product concepts that align with market demand.: Plant Operations Integration: Work hand-in-hand with the manufacturing team to ensure seamless technology transfer from the lab to the plant floor. Actively lead plant trials, troubleshoot scale-up challenges, and optimize formulations within operational constraints.. QA & Regulatory Support: Collaborate with Quality Assurance and Regulatory specialists to guarantee all formulations meet strict food safety, compliance, and specification standards (FDA, USDA, etc.).3. Client Relations & Technical Consulting• Prepare and deliver compelling technical presentations to B2B clients, effectively articulating product value propositions and technical solutions.• Travel domestically and internationally (specifically to Japan) to anchor client meetings, capture emerging market needs, and strengthen strategic technical partnerships with our parent company and global clients.Qualifications & RequirementsEducation Bachelor's Degree or higher in Food Science, Chemistry, Biology, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related scientific discipline.Experience 3 to 10 years of hands-on product development experience within the foodmanufacturing industry.(Minimum 3 years of experience required; candidates with 6-10 years ofexperience are highly encouraged to apply and will be evaluated for accelerated leadership tracks.)Direct experience in dry mix processing, powder blending, or premix formulation is highlypreferred.Experience in Savory Formulations: Direct experience in formulating savory dry mixes (e.g., battermixes, coatings/breadings, seasonings, pizza doughs, or functional flour blends) is highlypreferred.Proven track record of successfully managing raw material selection, ingredient functionality, andrecipe commercialization (scaling up to plant manufacturing)Core Competencies & Skills Passion for Innovation: A strong internal drive to create new products,experiment with new ingredients, and bring novel food concepts to market.Cross-Functional Communication: Exceptional interpersonal skills with a proven ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to non-technical stakeholders across Sales, Marketing, and Operations.Collaborative Mindset: A strong history of fostering teamwork and mutual respect between the R&D lab and the plant floor to drive projects to the finish line.Leadership Potential: A self-motivated "player" mindset with the professionalmaturity and ambition to mentor others and lead a team in the future.