Assistant Manager, Product Development

About the role

The Assistant Manager – Product Development will drive the development and continuous improvement of food product portfolio. The role will be responsible for managing product development projects from concept ideation through formulation, testing, production trials and commercialization, while ensuring products meet consumer needs, quality standards, cost targets and business objectives.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and manage the development of new food products and improvement of existing products based on market trends, consumer needs and business opportunities
• Identify new product opportunities through market research, competitor benchmarking and consumer insights
• Develop product concepts, formulations and product positioning together with relevant stakeholders
• Manage product development projects from concept to commercialization, including product sampling, formulation, sensory evaluation, costing, testing, shelf-life studies and production trials
• Develop project timelines and ensure key milestones are achieved within agreed deadlines
• Conduct research on food trends, consumer preferences, ingredients, nutrition and emerging product innovations
• Work closely with Marketing, Sales, Purchasing, Production, Quality Assurance, Regulatory and Finance teams throughout the product development process
• Identify, source and evaluate new ingredients, packaging materials and potential suppliers
• Support the transition of successfully developed products from R&D into commercial production
• Take ownership of assigned product development projects and provide guidance to junior team members where required

About you

• Bachelor's Degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Nutrition, Dietetics, Biotechnology or a related field
• 3–5 years of relevant experience in food product development, R&D, FMCG or food manufacturing
• Strong understanding of food ingredients, formulation, sensory evaluation, product testing and production trials
• Good project management skills with the ability to manage multiple product development projects and deadlines
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills
• Commercially minded with a good understanding of consumer needs, market trends and product costing
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively across different departments
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, Word and PowerPoint
• Good command of English and Bahasa Malaysia, with the ability to speak Mandarin.
• Possess own transport and willing to travel for supplier visits, product sourcing, production trials and other business requirements when necessary

About us

Beacon Mart Holding Sdn Bhd is a food company focused on product development and innovation.