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R&d manager / food scientist
R&d manager / food scientist
22
Nairobi
Job Views:
Created Date: 2026-07-07T12:00:00.340Z
Experience: 5 - year
Salary: upto
Industry: 28
Openings: 1
Primary Responsibilities :
. New Product Development
Lead the development of new products from concept to commercial launch.
Identify market opportunities and develop innovative food products.
Create formulations for snacks, spices, seasonings, cereals, and related FMCG products.
Conduct feasibility studies and product evaluations.
2. Formulation & Technical Development
Perform ingredient selection, formulation development, and recipe optimization.
Conduct laboratory trials, pilot trials, and factory trials.
Evaluate flavor, texture, aroma, appearance, and shelf-life performance.
Improve existing products for quality, consistency, and cost optimization.
3. Scale-Up & Commercialization
Work closely with Production to scale formulations from pilot batches to full commercial manufacturing.
Support process validation and production troubleshooting.
Ensure smooth transfer of products from R&D to Operations.
4. Documentation & Compliance
Prepare and maintain formulations, technical data sheets, specifications, and trial reports.
Ensure compliance with food safety and regulatory requirements.
Coordinate shelf-life studies, allergen assessments, and risk evaluations.
Ensure formulations meet internal quality standards and labeling regulations.
5. Market & Innovation Management
Benchmark competitor products and monitor global food trends.
Identify opportunities for new product categories and line extensions.
Support customer presentations, product demonstrations, and technical discussions.
6. Laboratory & Team Management
Manage the R&D laboratory, equipment, samples, and documentation systems.
Coordinate trials and testing activities.
Collaborate with Quality, Procurement, Production, and Marketing teams.
Lead multiple R&D projects simultaneously.
Experience Requirements:
Education
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Chemistry, or a related field.
Experience
5–8 years of hands-on experience in food product development.
Strong experience in snacks, seasonings, spices, breakfast cereals, or similar FMCG categories.
Experience managing multiple product development projects.
Technical Knowledge
Food formulation and ingredient functionality.
Flavor systems and seasoning development.
Snack processing technologies.
Shelf-life evaluation.
HACCP, ISO, FSSC, GMP, and food labeling regulations.
Product commercialization processes.
Preferred Industry Experience
Snacks
Potato Chips
Extruded Snacks
Namkeen / Ethnic Snacks
Spices & Seasonings
Herbs
Breakfast Cereals
FMCG Food Manufacturing
Preferred Additional Experience
Packaging development.
Experience in both snacks and spice/seasoning categories.
International food manufacturing exposure.
Product launch and commercialization experience.
Key Skills & Competencies
Product Development
Food Formulation
Sensory Evaluation
Ingredient Selection
Flavor Development
Process Optimization
Food Safety Compliance
Project Management
Technical Documentation
Cross-Functional Coordination
Analytical & Problem Solving
Innovation & Creativity
Personal Attributes
Acts with integrity, professionalism, and accountability.
Highly driven and proactive.
Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
Organized and disciplined in planning and execution.
Excellent collaboration and communication skills.
Calm under pressure and solution-oriented.
Creative thinker with a continuous improvement mindset.
Able to balance technical depth with practical business decisions.