International R&D Manager

For one of our clients, a global multinational in the confectionery industry, we are looking for an RDQ Manager for one of their factories in the Chennai region of India. During the first months, you would receive training at their European HQ, after which you would lead the RDQ department at one of their factories in India.Global mobility is necessary.This role leads the RDQ organization, with a strong focus on product development, process optimization, sustainable packaging development and quality. You would lead a team of around several managers responsible for the domains mentioned above?The RDQ Manager defines and implements the local / regional RDQ strategy in accordance with Group RD&Q and local business objectives. S/He provides strategic input on business decisions in relation to the innovation pipeline, the research, development and industrialization of new products and the compliance with quality and food law. The person will oversee the following functions:Product & process development:Accountable for the definition and implementation of the innovation pipeline in accordance with the Group and local strategy, collaborating with Group RDQ, local Marketing and Supply Chain.Ensure development and industrialization of new products and improvement of the existing ones in terms of product design, formulation, stability, packaging, quality, value engineering and process efficiency to deliver better consumer experience with same or lower cost or deliver same consumer experience with significant cost reduction.Ensure efficient project management from concept to commercialization.Lead cross-functional initiatives to drive innovation, product development, and quality enhancements.Liaise with Local Supply Chain for continuous improvement projects and manage trouble shooting on the existing processes.Evaluate, together with Group RDQ, new technology development initiatives or opportunities around ingredient, formulation and manufacturing processes.Liaise with external partners, suppliers, and regulatory bodies to ensure compliance and support innovation.Quality & ComplianceEnsure compliance with local and international food safety and quality standards (e.g., ISO, HACCP, FSSC 22000) for all the products manufactured and distributed across the markets.Proactively improve quality of products and lead the implementation and continuous improvement of quality systems, audits, and traceability.Act as the authority on product safety and ensure claims are compliant to rules set by Group Regulatory.Throughout the product development process, in collaboration with R&D, define the full quality parameters.Organize and execute all quality control activities.Manage and evaluate product shelf life and durability studies.Decide on product release.PackagingDeliver reliable material specifications for all packaging material categories.Deliver packaging cost saving and sustainability in agreement with Group RDQ.Organize and follow-up all industrial trials and packaging line startup.Master data managementEnsure the integrity, completeness, and accessibility of all relevant data, material specifications, and Bill of Materials for the relevant products to design appropriate databases and generate reports.Apply in-depth understanding of all company processes to create common value.Demonstrate advanced skills in data analysis of non correlated data, and utilize the same to generate different scenarios and provide value added insights to the organization.ProfileDegree in Food Science/Technology, Chemistry, or related disciplines.Experience in leading an R&D department.Min. 10 years of progressive experience in R&D and/or Quality/Packaging roles, of which at least 5 years in a managerial RDQ role.Experience in the food/beverage industry is a must, knowledge of confectionery is a plus.Strong leadership experience with a proven ability to lead diverse technical teams.Solid intercultural skills, able to connect with people from diverse cultural backgrounds.Solid knowledge of English.Global mobility to relocate outside of Europe.