Formulation & Application Technologist (SEA)

Key Responsibility/ Accountability:

Product Development and Customization:

• Design and develop tailored ingredient blends (e.g., hydrocolloids, modified starches, enzymes, proteins, emulsifiers, etc.) to meet specific customer needs in food applications like dairy, beverages, savoury, etc.
• Ensure product solutions align with regulatory requirements in the region.
• Responsible to conduct in-depth application study in various food categories in order to verify the performance of the blended solutions developed.

Technical Support and Problem Solving:

• Provide technical expertise to internal teams and customers on formulation challenges and application troubleshooting.
• Work with Innovation & Development Team members across APAC Region to develop suitable prototypes to showcase the functionality of ingredient blends for client presentations.
• Conduct root cause analysis for customer production issues and recommend practical solutions.

Customer Collaboration and Engagement:

• Work closely with customers and internal sales and business development team to understand their specific needs and tailor solutions accordingly.
• Conduct technical training sessions, workshops, and product demonstrations for clients as per requirement in collaboration with local Innovation & Development team.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key customers especially customers in SEA.

Regulatory and Compliance Management:

• Closely work with local regulatory, Innovation & Development and compliance team to ensure ingredient blends comply with local regulations in key markets (e.g., labelling, permitted additives, and standards).
• Liaise with regulatory teams to update product specifications and certifications.

Cross Functional Collaboration:

• Collaborate with Innovation & Development, Business Development, Sales, Marketing, Procurement, Manufacturing and Operations teams to ensure seamless product development and commercialization.
• Provide technical input for customer proposals, market strategies, and product launches.
• Work closely with various suppliers in order to obtain the best solutions.
• Proactively work with Procurement team to identify risk and explore opportunities to improve the blends profitability
• Proactively work with Procurement team to identify new ingredient suppliers for blends.

Qualifications and Experience:

Educational Background:

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in food science, Food Technology or Food Engineering.
• Experience:
• 10+ years of experience in food R&D, product development, or technical service, with a focus on ingredient solutions.
• Proven track record of developing and commercializing functional blends for food applications in the APAC/SEA region.

Technical Skills:

• Strong knowledge of hydrocolloids, starches, emulsifiers, proteins, and fibers.
• Handson experience with food processing equipment and pilot plant operations. Familiarity with APAC food regulations and compliance requirements.

Soft Skills:

• Excellent problem solving and project management skills.
• Strong communication and presentation skills for customer interactions and internal collaboration.
• Ability to work in a cross cultural, dynamic, and fast paced environment.

Regional Expertise:

• Understanding of diverse APAC markets, including consumer preferences, product trends, and challenges.

Preferred Attributes:

• Must have a customer centric mindset.
• Have experience in dairy or plant-based product formulations.
• Proficiency in sensory evaluation techniques and data analysis.
• Familiarity with advanced tools for sales and management (Sales Force)
• Demonstrated negotiation and influencing skills and ability to work well as part of cross functional / cultural teams.
• A strong work ethic, flexible in approach and supportive of others.
• Results orientated with a solutions-based approach.

Brenntag TA Team