Job Summary

Provide purpose, direction and manage New Projects portfolio for NPD/EPD/VE defined by assigned business group/category stakeholders in order to ensure proper launch according with funnel pipeline across all BUs. Provide process development support to all O&F BUs and Introduction of new concepts and Technologies in consultation with CoE Leader.

Control and maintenance of ISO 17025, including laboratory testing methods and equipment selection, to meet ISO 17025 requirements and define long term and short- term goals to identify growth opportunities, formulating action plan across the R&D community.

Roles & Responsibilities

• Analyse oils and fats samples from various sources to provide qualitative and quantitative information on the composition of the oil/fat and contaminant analysis 3-MCPD&GE, MOSH/MOAH using analytical techniques such as HPLC, HPTLC, GC, GCMS, ICPMS, DSC, GC/FID- HPLC etc.
• Anticipate analytical needs of IFFCO assigned businesses around the globe.
• Assume line management responsibilities for non-management team members.
• Assume Product Development responsibilities in selected key NPD/VE projects from the global R&D funnel.
• Assume responsibilities of a technical project leader for selected projects (e.g., EPD) in consultation with CoE Leader, delivering the whole technical workstream of the project in close alignment with commercial project leader.
• Assume responsibility for commercialization of new and reformulated products and successful transition from development to operations (product approval).
• Collaborate with Operations team to optimize production processes for assigned product portfolio items while ensuring compliance with product specifications.
• Collaborate with QA team to set BU quality standards and define IFFCO MoA (methods of analysis).
• Communicate effectively with customers, Sales, Marketing, Operations, QA/QC, Finance and Central Procurement to support new product development and facilitate OTIF project delivery.
• Coordinate R&D activities with the Quality Control Team as part of a joint product development and implementation process.
• Create and modify product formulas, processing procedures and finished product specifications in line with the business requirements.
• Deliver agreed tasks related to organization of customer workshops, as well as conduct visits of selected key customers in alignment with T&AS lead and the CoE lead.
• Develop new processing technologies and new product formulations, as well as variants of existing products, in line with agreed business priorities as a part of multidisciplinary (S&D, Marketing, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Regulatory, Finance, etc.) teams in line with customer expectations.
• Ensure compliance of analytical testing with relevant international standards.
• Establish product specifications and procedures as required for R & D projects.
• Improve current formulations of products when needed.
• Investigate new technologies for their application in new products and product categories.
• Lead the process of maintenance of selected laboratory instruments (e.g., for advanced O&F analysis) to ensure proper working order and troubleshoot malfunctions when needed.
• Manage and control product development process to comply with customer quality policy and relevant countries\' legislation, ensuring that R&D product samples are prepared OTIF and in line with food safety guidelines.
• Manage shelf life studies for product samples generated by the CoE team, as well as competition / reference products.
• Provide coaching/mentoring to junior R&D staff.
• Provide technical support to IFFCO Oils & Fats manufacturing units across the globe, if requested by TS leads.
• Research product formulations and properties of raw materials.
• Supervise approved laboratory testing methods to meet ISO 17025 requirements.
• Work collaboratively in cross-functional teams.

KPIs

• Central O&F NPD/VE funnel delivery: AOP targets for Gross Margin, Volume and Value Engineering Savings.
• Continuous Improvement of Analytical capability.
• Demonstrable project leadership and product management experience/skills.

Work experience requirement

• 10+ years of experience in Oils and Fats manufacturing company with 3+ years of experience in the R&D function for an organization in Foods business.
• Working knowledge of Oils & Fats technologies (refinery, fractionation, votation, analysis, etc.) and applications (margarines, shortenings, lauric fats, frying oils, etc.).
• 5+ years of working experience in food industry preferred.

Qualification

• Bachelor Degree in Food Technology/Chemistry or related field (Mandatory).
• Master Degree in Food Technology/Chemistry or related field (Preferable).

Competencies

Communicating effectively

Customer Centricity

Ownership & Result Orientation

Planning & Decision Making

Self and Team Management

Business Unit: Research & Development (UAE) (3141)

Business Group: Oils&Fats (239)

IFFCO