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

• Bachelors degree or above in Food Technology Chemical Engineering Food Science or related disciplines.
• Minimum 810 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