Closing Date : 30/06/2024

Assistant Manager, Food Innovation  

Position Responsibilities

Trend Analysis and Market Research

  • Actively research and analyze emerging food trends, consumer preferences, and competitor innovations

  • Collaborate with the team to brainstorm and generate disruptive food concepts that align with market demands and brand strategy

  • Stay updated on social media, industry publications, and food conferences to identify potential food and flavor inspirations


Product Development

  • Test new recipes, meticulously balancing taste, quality, cost-effectiveness, and feasibility for large-scale production

  • Conduct thorough research on novel ingredients, explore alternative sourcing options, and ensure responsible procurement practices

  • Experiment with flavor profiles and culinary techniques to create unique and delicious food experiences

  • Generate innovative and creative ideas to merge food and beverage as a single SKU


Project Management & Documentation

  • Assist in project planning, scheduling, and resource allocation for new product development initiatives

  • Develop and maintain detailed recipe documentation, including ingredient lists, portion sizes, preparation methods, and costing analysis

  • Work closely with packaging and marketing teams to develop product descriptions and branding strategies.


Supplier & Vendor Management

  • Identify potential suppliers and maintain good rapport

  • Work with vendors and suppliers to manage timely development of new recipes


Quality Assurance

  • Collaborate with QA teams to maintain high product standards and ensure all products are in compliance to halal requirements, health and safety regulations

  • Conduct investigations and propose solutions to address all product complaints or feedback


Sensory Evaluation

  • Responsible for all internal, committee and mass testing, collation & presentation of data

  • Regularly introduce process improvements to improve testing procedures


Cross Functional Team Collaboration

  • Provide insights for Product Go-to-Market team to craft go-to-market strategies

  • Work with other departments (Supply Chain, QA, Marketing, Operations, Halal) to assess overall feasibility of product launch timeline

  • Collaborate closely with Go-to-Market team to plan for product deployment

Qualifications & Experience

  • Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in food or beverage product development, culinary innovation, or related roles within the F&B industry

  • A passion for food innovation, with a keen understanding of flavor profiles, ingredient functionality, and culinary techniques

  • Knowledge of food science principles, food safety regulations, and quality assurance standards

  • Proven track record of successfully managing innovation projects from concept to commercialization, including experience with cross-functional collaboration and project management tools

  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively present ideas, influence stakeholders, and build consensus across teams

  • Creative thinker with a curiosity for exploring new ingredients, techniques, and food trends

  • Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize tasks and manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment

a Necessity, not a Luxury

  Spoken Language:  Malay, English

  Written Language:  Malay, English