Senior Specialist, R&D

Company: The Italian Baker Sdn Bhd

Location: Pulau Indah

Summary

Responsible for assisting and leading product development initiatives, improving existing formulations or processes, and ensuring compliance with food safety and regulatory standards. This role focuses on hands-on project execution such as product/process optimization and market research activities, team coordination, data validation and cross-functional collaboration.

Job Responsibilities

Product Development

• Support the R&D Manager in driving end-to-end product development from concept to commercialization, and assume a co-lead role when required to ensure project continuity and timely execution.
• Lead cost optimization and product/process improvement initiatives to enhance quality, nutrition, shelf-life, and cost-efficiency.
• Participate in product performance trials, sensory evaluations, shelf-life studies and prepare technical reports.
• Maintain technical records, formulations, test data, specifications and regulatory files.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams to ensure smooth product launches, quality, food safety and regulatory compliance.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of food regulations and safety standards, locally and globally.

Market Research and Competitor Studies

• Conduct market scanning and competitor benchmarking activities.
• Support feasibility studies, risk assessment and data to evaluate new product/innovation opportunities.
• Prepare technical insights and summaries for management decision-making.

Team & Project Coordination

• Lead and identify opportunities of process improvement and system standardization within R&D, including documentation, sample tracking, specification databases, etc.
• Guide and support R&D executives and assistants in technical tasks.
• Monitor resource usage, execute improvement actions and report progress.
• Act as deputy to the R&D Manager when required.
• Others

Others

• Serve as a role model and advocate for the company's culture and values both internally and externally.
• All employees are expected to demonstrate flexibility in delivering their work, proactively contributing to team goals as well as overall business goals and working collaboratively across all levels. You may be required to undertake duties not explicitly mentioned in the job description that are consistent with your role.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Manager / Product Development Manager / Management.

Education & Qualification

• Possess at least a Bachelor's Degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Food Engineering or equivalent.
• Required language Bahasa Malaysia and English.

Relevant Experience & Years of Service

• Minimum 5 years of experience in food product development or R&D within the food industry.
• Minimum 3 - 5 years of experience in a leadership role within R&D.
• Preferable experience in baking.
• Proven track record of leading successful product launches.
• Experience in commercial food production, quality assurance, food safety and regulation compliance.

Technical Skills & Professional Knowledge

• Deep understanding of food chemistry, ingredient functionality, microbiology, etc.
• Strong knowledge of food processing technologies, preservation methods, and formulation principles.
• Proficiency in sensory evaluation, consumer testing, market research and laboratory testing techniques.
• Strong understanding of quality, regulatory and food safety standards (regulations, GMP, HACCP, FSSC, etc.).

Competencies

• Able to nurture the culture of a learning organisation.
• Able to establish and maintain open/trusting relationships with colleagues and stakeholders to nurture collaborative partnerships and work towards a common goal.
• Able to contribute and encourage new ideas and approaches to support business growth; demonstrate openness to and enthusiasm for new initiatives and appropriately challenge the status quo; adapt and improvise quickly, appropriately, and decisively to internal/external changes.
• Able to display accountability for team and personal decisions/outcomes and take proactive actions to achieve results with dedication to follow through on commitments; create plans and manage resources to accomplish and deliver self and team's commitments.
• Able to understand and prioritise stakeholders' needs/expectations and develop solutions to improve service delivery.
• Able to appreciate the complex interrelationships between external factors and internal business operations and develops strategic plans in response to market shifts and shocks anchored on organisations vision, purpose, and strategy.
• Adaptability and flexibility to changes in business landscape demonstrating initiative concerning forward thinking and planning.
• Exhibits high level of integrity, professionalism, objectivity, personal accountability, and ability to maintain confidentiality and sensitive information.