R&D Assistant Manager - Food Manufacturing
🚀 Hiring: R&D Assistant Manager - Food Manufacturing
📍 Location: Batu Pahat, Johor.
Desa Southern Food Products Sdn. Bhd. is an established halal food manufacturer with a strong presence in Malaysia’s FMCG industry, specialising in preserved fruits and nuts products.
As part of our growth and focus on innovation, we are looking for a capable R&D professional to drive product development and support the commercialization of new and improved products.
Key Responsibilities:
In this role, you will be responsible for:- Leading new product development (NPD) projects from concept, formulation, trial, to successful commercialization
- Developing and improving product formulations for preserved fruits, nuts, and snack products , ensuring quality, consistency, and scalability
- Evaluating formulations based on sensory attributes, ingredient functionality, cost feasibility, and regulatory compliance (Halal & food regulations)
- Monitoring market trends and consumer preferences to support product innovation and improvement initiatives
- Leading or participating in cross-functional discussions to align product development with business and commercial objectives
- Working closely with Purchasing to source new ingredients, evaluate supplier materials, and identify cost-effective alternatives
- Collaborating with QA to ensure product compliance with food safety standards and labelling requirements
- Managing product documentation , including formulations, specifications, and development reports and ensure compliance with food regulations (local & export country) and Halal requirements
- Reviewing packaging and labelling artwork to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements
- Tracking and reporting project progress, timelines, and KPIs to management
- Bachelor’s Degree in Food Science & Technology, Food Engineering, Nutrition Science or related field
- Minimum 5 years of experience in food manufacturing or product development
- Hands-on experience in formulation, product trials, and commercialization
- Experience in snack, dried fruit, nut, or beverage premix industry is an advantage
- Knowledge of food labelling and regulatory requirements
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and practical execution skills
- Ability to work cross-functionally and manage multiple projects
- Opportunity to drive end-to-end product development from concept to launch
- Hands-on exposure in a practical FMCG manufacturing environment
- Work closely with cross-functional teams across the business
- Contribute directly to innovation and product growth strategy