R&D Manager - Ice Cream

This role requires the candidate to work in Bekasi or Surabaya, Indonesia.

Client Overview

Our client is a rapidly growing multinational fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) company specializing in frozen and chilled food products across the dairy and dessert categories. Since establishing operations in Indonesia, the company has built a strong nationwide distribution network supported by large-scale manufacturing capabilities and integrated cold-chain operations, enabling consistent product quality and broad market reach across multiple regions in Southeast Asia.

With a strong focus on innovation, operational excellence, and consumer-driven product development, the organization continues to expand its portfolio of high-turnover perishable products. Supported by international collaboration and cross-border business operations, the company emphasizes continuous improvement, supply chain efficiency, and long-term talent development within a highly competitive FMCG environment.

Job Role

The R&D Manager / Senior Manager will lead end-to-end product development activities for dairy and frozen dessert products, including formulation development, product trials, process optimization, and commercialization support. This position plays a strategic role in driving product innovation while ensuring consistency in taste profile, production scalability, cost efficiency, and shelf-life stability aligned with business objectives.

Working closely with cross-functional teams and international stakeholders, the successful candidate will bridge technical product development with industrial-scale manufacturing requirements. The role requires strong technical expertise in food science, practical understanding of large-scale FMCG operations, and the ability to support fast-paced product innovation initiatives within a multinational environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and reformulation of dairy and frozen dessert products with focus on product quality, sensory performance, and market competitiveness.
• Manage product trial activities, pilot plant testing, and scale-up processes from laboratory stage to commercial production.
• Evaluate and validate raw materials, ingredients, and supplier capabilities to ensure product consistency and cost optimization.
• Ensure all product formulations and development processes comply with applicable food safety regulations, quality standards, and internal compliance requirements.
• Collaborate closely with Production, Quality, Supply Chain, Procurement, and Marketing teams to support successful product launches and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Monitor product stability, shelf-life performance, and cold-chain compatibility for perishable food categories.
• Prepare technical documentation, formulation records, product specifications, and development reports for management review and audit purposes.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives related to manufacturing efficiency, product performance, and innovation pipelines.
  
  
  

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or above in Food Technology, Chemical Engineering, Food Science, or related disciplines.
• Minimum 8–10 years of experience in Research & Development or Product Development within the FMCG industry, particularly in dairy, frozen food, or other perishable product categories.
• Strong experience handling product formulation, industrial-scale production processes, and commercialization activities within large-scale FMCG operations.
• Experience working within multinational or highly structured FMCG environments is preferred.
• Strong understanding of food chemistry, dairy processing, sensory evaluation, and product stability management.
• Knowledge of cold-chain operations, emulsifier/stabilizer systems, and shelf-life optimization for perishable products.
• Familiarity with food safety standards, regulatory compliance, and quality management systems.
• Proficient in technical reporting, data analysis, and presentation preparation.
• Professional working proficiency in English is required to support communication, technical presentations, and coordination with international stakeholders.
• Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving capabilities, and attention to detail.
• Able to work effectively in fast-paced and cross-functional environments.
• Strong communication, project management, and stakeholder coordination skills.
• Passion for product innovation and continuous improvement.
  
  
  

Job Code: #652