Job Summary
- The R&D Specialist is responsible for developing, improving, and commercializing products within the company's portfolio of:
- Chocolate Drinks
- Cocoa Powder
- Chocolate Bars
- Choco Pops
- Choco Cubes
- The role focuses on product formulation, process optimization, raw material evaluation, sensory analysis, quality improvement, and innovation to ensure products meet quality, consumer, regulatory, and business requirements.
Key Responsibilities
Product Development and Innovation:
- Develop new products from concept through commercialization.
- Formulate and optimize recipes for beverages, cocoa products, cereals, and confectionery products.
- Conduct laboratory, pilot plant, and production-scale trials.
- Improve existing products to enhance taste, texture, nutritional profile, shelf life, and cost efficiency.
- Benchmark products against competitors and industry standards.
- Translate consumer and market insights into innovative product solutions.
Chocolate Beverage and Cocoa Powder Development:
- Develop and optimize formulations for chocolate drinks and cocoa-based beverages.
- Improve cocoa powder functionality, solubility, flavor, and sensory characteristics.
- Evaluate cocoa bean derivatives and ingredient performance.
- Conduct stability and shelf-life studies for beverage products.
- Support the development of fortified and value-added cocoa products.
Chocolate Bar Development:
- Develop new chocolate bar formulations and product variations.
- Optimize processes related to:
- Mixing
- Refining
- Conching
- Tempering
- Moulding
- Packaging
- Improve texture, flavor, gloss, snap, and product stability.
- Conduct product trials to improve yield and production efficiency.
Choco Pops and Choco Cubes Development:
- Develop and improve breakfast cereal and snack formulations
- Optimize processing parameters for:
- Mixing
- Extrusion
- Drying
- Coating
- Flavor application
- Improve crunchiness, flavor retention, appearance, and shelf stability.
- Evaluate alternative ingredients and fortification opportunities.
Process Optimization:
- Identify opportunities to improve manufacturing efficiency and product consistency.
- Analyze production data to enhance productivity and reduce waste.
- Support troubleshooting of production challenges.
- Participate in continuous improvement and cost-reduction initiatives.
- Validate process changes prior to implementation.
Sensory Evaluation and Consumer Testing:
- Conduct sensory evaluations and product tasting panels.
- Analyze consumer feedback and product acceptance data.
- Recommend improvements based on sensory and market research findings.
- Support consumer preference studies and product benchmarking activities.
Raw Material and Ingredient Evaluation:
- Assess new ingredients, additives, flavors, and cocoa derivatives.
- Evaluate alternative raw materials for quality and cost optimization.
- Support supplier qualification and approval activities.
- Develop and maintain ingredient specifications.
Quality, Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance:
Ensure product development activities comply with:
- GMP
- HACCP
- ISO 22000 / FSSC 22000
- Local Food Regulations
- Customer Requirements
- Support investigations of product quality issues and customer complaints.
- Participate in root cause analysis and corrective action implementation.
- Ensure accurate nutritional and product labeling information.
Laboratory and Technical Activities:
- Maintain detailed records of formulations, trials, and research findings.
- Prepare technical reports and recommendations.
Qualifications
Education:
Primary& Secondary Schooling (K-12)
- Bachelor's Degree in: Food Science and Technology, Food Engineering, Industrial Chemistry, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, Nutrition or related sciences discipline
Experience:
- 3–7 years of experience in Food and Beverage Manufacturing.
Experience in:
- Cocoa Processing
- Chocolate Manufacturing
- Beverage Formulation
- Confectionery Product Development
- Experience managing product development and improvement projects.
Technical Competencies:
Product Knowledge:
- Cocoa Processing Technology
- Chocolate Manufacturing
- Beverage Formulation
- Cereal Processing
- Flavor Development
- Ingredient Functionality
- Packaging Technology
- Shelf-Life Studies
Technical Skills:
- Product Formulation
- Process Validation
- Sensory Evaluation
- Laboratory Analysis
- Statistical Data Analysis
- HACCP and GMP
- Root Cause Analysis
- Project Management
- Cost Optimization.
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Job Summary
- The R&D Specialist is responsible for supporting research, product development, process improvement, and technical innovation activities across the company's portfolio of:
- Packaged Drinking Water
- Refined Soya Oil
- Crude Palm Kernel Oil (CPKO)
- Refined Palm Kernel Oil (RPKO)
- Animal Feed Products
- The role focuses on developing and improving products, optimizing manufacturing processes, evaluating raw materials, conducting trials, and ensuring compliance with quality, food safety, and regulatory requirements.
Key Responsibilities
Product Development and Improvement:
- Develop new products and formulations in line with business objectives and market requirements.
- Improve existing products to enhance quality, functionality, nutritional value, and cost-effectiveness.
- Conduct laboratory and plant-scale trials for new product development projects.
- Support commercialization activities and successful product launches.
- Prepare technical reports and product development documentation.
Water Product Development:
- Support the development and improvement of bottled water products.
- Conduct studies on water treatment processes including:
- Filtration
- Reverse Osmosis (RO)
- UV Treatment
- Ozonation
- Monitor water quality parameters and regulatory compliance.
- Participate in shelf-life and packaging validation studies.
Edible Oils Development:
- Support process optimization for:
- Crude Palm Kernel Oil (CPKO)
- Refined Palm Kernel Oil (RPKO)
- Refined Soya Oil
- Evaluate refining efficiency and oil quality improvement initiatives.
- Monitor critical quality parameters including:
- Free Fatty Acid (FFA)
- Moisture Content
- Peroxide Value
- Iodine Value
- Color
- Conduct trials on yield improvement and process optimization.
Animal Feed Research and Development:
- Assist in feed formulation and optimization activities.
- Evaluate alternative and cost-effective raw material sources.
- Conduct feed performance and nutritional assessment studies.
- Monitor feed quality, digestibility, and production performance indicators.
Process Improvement:
- Identify opportunities to improve product quality and manufacturing efficiency.
- Participate in continuous improvement initiatives.
- Analyze production data and recommend corrective actions.
- Investigate product and process deviations and propose solutions.
- Support waste reduction and yield improvement projects.
Laboratory and Technical Support:
- Conduct laboratory testing and validation studies.
- Analyze raw materials, in-process samples, and finished products.
- Maintain accurate records of trials, research findings, and technical data.
- Prepare technical specifications and test methods.
Raw Material and Supplier Evaluation:
- Evaluate new raw materials and alternative ingredients.
- Conduct supplier qualification and technical assessments.
- Develop raw material specifications.
- Support procurement through technical evaluations and recommendations.
Quality, Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance:
- Support internal and external audits.
- Assist in corrective and preventive action (CAPA) implementation.
- Participate in root cause investigations related to quality issues.
Requirements
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's Degree in Food Science and Technology, Chemical Engineering, Food Engineering, Biochemistry, Industrial Chemistry
Experience:
- 3–7 years of relevant experience in:
- Food Manufacturing
- Edible Oil Processing
- Water Treatment Operations
- Animal Feed Manufacturing
- Research & Development
- Experience in laboratory analysis, product formulation, and process optimization is highly desirable.
Technical Competencies:
Industry Knowledge:
- Water Treatment Technology
- Edible Oil Refining Processes
- Palm Kernel Oil Processing
- Soya Oil Processing
- Animal Feed Formulation
- Food Safety Systems
Technical Skills:
- Product Formulation
- Data Analysis and Interpretation
- Laboratory Testing Techniques
- Statistical Process Control (SPC)
- Root Cause Analysis
- HACCP and GMP
- Shelf-life Studies
- Technical Report Writing
- Project Management Fundamentals
- Planning and Organization.
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