Research & Development Manager (Ice Cream Specialist)

Position Summary

The Research & Development Manager (Ice Cream Specialist) is responsible for leading the development, optimization, and commercialization of innovative ice cream products that meet consumer preferences, quality standards, regulatory requirements, and business objectives. The role drives product innovation, formulation development, process improvement, cost optimization, and technical support.

Key Responsibilities

Product Innovation & Development

• Lead the development of new ice cream products, including premium, mainstream, functional, and novelty categories.

• Develop and optimize formulations to achieve desired taste, texture, stability, and shelf life.

• Identify emerging market trends, consumer insights, and competitive products to drive innovation.

• Create and maintain product development pipelines aligned with business growth strategies.

• Conduct benchmarking studies and competitive product evaluations.

Technical Leadership

• Provide technical expertise in ice cream formulation, dairy ingredients, stabilizers, emulsifiers, flavors, inclusions, and processing technologies.

• Troubleshoot product quality and processing issues during development and commercialization.

• Lead pilot plant trials, industrial scale-up, and commercialization activities.

• Ensure product consistency across multiple manufacturing sites.

Process Improvement & Cost Optimization

• Identify opportunities for formulation and process improvements to enhance product quality and manufacturing efficiency.

• Lead value engineering projects to optimize ingredient costs without compromising quality.

• Improve production yield, process capability, and product performance.

Project Management

• Manage multiple R&D projects from concept development to commercial launch.

• Establish project timelines, milestones, and resource requirements.

• Coordinate cross-functional activities with Marketing, Operations, Procurement, Quality, Regulatory Affairs, and Supply Chain teams.

• Ensure timely delivery of innovation and renovation projects.

Quality & Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure all products comply with local and international food safety regulations and standards.

• Collaborate with Quality Assurance to establish product specifications and quality standards.

• Support food safety initiatives including HACCP, GMP, FSSC 22000, and relevant regulatory requirements.

• Ensure accurate documentation of formulations, specifications, and technical reports.

Consumer & Market Focus

• Participate in consumer testing and sensory evaluation programs.

• Translate consumer insights into product development opportunities.

• Support marketing teams with product positioning and technical product claims.

Team Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and develop the R&D team.

• Foster a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, and technical excellence.

• Provide coaching and technical training to team members.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Food Technology, Food Science, Dairy Technology, Chemical Engineering, or related field.

• Master's Degree is preferred.

Experience

• Minimum 8–10 years of experience in Food R&D, including at least 5 years in ice cream product development it's must

• Proven experience in commercializing ice cream products from concept to market launch.

• Experience in multinational dairy or ice cream manufacturing companies is preferred.

Technical Competencies

• Strong knowledge of ice cream formulation and manufacturing processes.

• Expertise in dairy ingredients, stabilizer systems, emulsifiers, flavors, and inclusions.

• Understanding of freezing technology, overrun management, heat treatment, homogenization, and shelf-life stability.

• Knowledge of food safety and quality management systems.

• Strong project management and problem solving skills.

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic thinking and innovation mindset.

• Strong leadership and team management capability.

• Effective communication and stakeholder management skills.

• Results oriented with strong execution capability.

• Ability to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.