Research and Development Officer

About the role

The Research and Development Officer drives product and process improvement initiatives for manufactured materials used in core and complementary food products. The role ensures supply sustainability by managing raw material development projects, technology transfer, and cost‑efficiency programs.

Key responsibilities

• Creates and improves formulations and processes to achieve product superiority and cost efficiency.
• Commercializes formulations from the Menu Innovations Team and translates them for manufacturing.
• Performs basic formula and process reviews to enhance taste and value.
• Collaborates with sensory and research teams to define accurate sensory descriptors.
• Develops store operating procedures, commissary process flows, and product menu lists.
• Documents final manufacturing and store processes and standards.
• Executes technology transfer to local suppliers and commissaries for best‑selling and core products.
• Audits supplier capability and capacity against quality and food‑safety requirements.
• Creates raw‑material specifications, product standards, and process parameters.
• Gathers data and recommends process improvements to maximize supplier capability.
• Establishes finished‑goods monitoring, inspection, and validation procedures.
• Supports new supplier CPR applications and troubleshooting of quality concerns.
• Evaluates and tests raw materials for business continuity planning.
• Networks with suppliers and technical institutions to source material innovations.
• Executes strategic initiatives to improve raw‑material cost efficiency and monitors savings implementation.

Required profile

• Experience in product formulation, process improvement, and technology transfer.
• Ability to audit supplier capabilities and develop raw‑material specifications.
• Strong analytical skills for data gathering, cost‑efficiency analysis, and quality monitoring.
• Collaboration skills to work with sensory, research, marketing, and executive teams.

Required skills

• Technology transfer
• Raw‑material specification development
• Process improvement and cost‑efficiency analysis
• Product formulation and commercialization