Research & Development Manager

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the R&D team in developing new products, formulations, and product improvements (especially for flavor, fragrance, and essential oil) aligned with market and business objectives.
• Develop and execute the company’s R&D strategy, innovation roadmap, and product development pipeline.
• Lead formulation development, laboratory trials, testing, validation, and scale-up activities from laboratory to production scale.
• Conduct research on raw materials, formulations, technologies, and manufacturing processes to improve product performance, quality, cost efficiency, and competitiveness.
• Evaluate and approve new raw materials, alternative materials, and formulation changes in collaboration with Quality Control.
• Establish and maintain R&D standards, procedures, specifications, testing methods, and technical documentation.
• Manage product development projects, including project timelines, resources, priorities, and deliverables.
• Monitor product stability, performance, and quality through appropriate laboratory testing and evaluation.
• Identify opportunities for process optimization, cost reduction, product differentiation, and continuous improvement.
• Support technical transfer from R&D to production and ensure smooth implementation of new or improved products.
• Prepare and present technical reports, project updates, product development results, and recommendations to management.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Science, Food Science, Materials Science, or a related field.
• Minimum 5-8 years of relevant experience in R&D/Product Development, preferably within FMCG, chemical manufacturing (Flavor/ fragrance/ essential oil), personal care, home care, or related industries. Minimum 2 years of experience in a managerial or leadership position.
• Strong experience in formulation development, product innovation, sensory evaluation, laboratory testing, product improvement, and scale-up.
• Experience in developing and commercializing new products from concept through production scale is highly preferred.
• Proficient in product costing and managing technical documentation, including COA, SDS, IFRA, and allergen information as required.
• Skilled in project management, formulation data management, and Microsoft Excel.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, project management, and decision-making skills.
• Strong leadership, communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Innovative, proactive, detail-oriented, and results-driven with a strong business mindset.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and familiar with relevant laboratory or R&D data management systems.
• Willing to stay in Gresik, East Java