Research & Development Department Manager - Beverage
About this position
Responsibilities
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing R&D team, fostering a collaborative and innovative work environment.
• Develop and execute the R&D strategy in alignment with the company's overall business objectives and market trends.
• Identify and evaluate new technologies, ingredients, and processes to enhance product quality, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness.
• Oversee the R&D budget and allocate resources effectively to support project priorities.
• Stay abreast of industry trends, competitor activities, and regulatory changes affecting the food supplement and beverage industry.
• Manage the entire product development lifecycle, from concept ideation and formulation to prototyping, testing, and commercialization.
• Oversee lab-scale development and pilot trials to optimize formulations, processes, and product specifications.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Marketing, Sales, Production, and Quality Assurance, to ensure seamless product launches.
• Develop and maintain accurate product documentation, including formulations, specifications, and testing protocols.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance existing products and processes.
• Lead the successful scale-up of new products from pilot trials to full-scale commercial production.
• Troubleshoot production issues related to formulations and processes, working closely with the Production team to ensure optimal efficiency and quality.
• Develop and implement best practices for commercial processing of beverage and supplement products.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant food safety and quality regulations.
Requirements
• Strong background in the beverage industry with experience in commercial processing and New Product Development (NPD).
• Proven track record of managing product development projects from lab scale to commercialization.
• Excellent leadership and team management skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams.
• Knowledge of food safety and quality regulations.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.