Job Description
Join Sinergi Multi Lestarindo as the Lead Research & Development (R&D) for Food Ingredients in Kebon Jeruk, Jakarta. This pivotal role leads formulation development and provides samples and prototypes referenced by Sales and Product Development specialists, driving innovation from concept to market.
You will own the end-to-end R&D process for food ingredients, including concept ideation, formulation design, sensory evaluation, stability testing, and process optimization. Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, and Product Development to translate customer needs into technically sound, scalable products that meet quality, cost, and regulatory requirements.
Responsibilities include leading a project portfolio, designing and executing experiments, analyzing results, and maintaining comprehensive documentation. You will manage supplier relationships, evaluate raw materials, and ensure compliance with food safety standards and internal specs. You will communicate findings clearly to cross-functional teams and support scale-up from bench to pilot and production.
We value creativity, data-driven decision making, and a passion for clean-label and sustainable ingredients. If you are ready to shape the next generation of food ingredients in a dynamic, customer-focused environment, this is the role for you.
Responsibilities
- Lead the formulation development of new food ingredients, ensuring alignment with customer needs and internal standards.
- Develop and prototype formulations; translate concepts into samples for Sales and Product Development teams; provide technical support during customer engagements.
- Plan and execute experiments, analyze data (including sensory, stability, and shelf-life studies), and optimize processes for quality and cost efficiency.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Sales, Marketing, Regulatory, Production) to ensure timely delivery from concept to scale-up.
- Evaluate raw materials and suppliers, conduct material characterization, and maintain supplier relationships to ensure compliant and cost-effective ingredients.
- Document all R&D activities, manage project timelines, and present findings to stakeholders; support scale-up from bench to pilot to production.
- Monitor industry trends, competitive landscape, and regulatory changes to propose innovative, safe, and market-ready ingredients.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Chemistry, or related field; 5+ years of R&D experience in food ingredients; leadership experience preferred.
- Strong formulation development and technical know-how in emulsions, textures, flavors, and ingredient interactions.
- Hands-on experience with pilot plant operations, product scale-up, sensory evaluation, and stability testing.
- Solid knowledge of food safety regulations (BPOM, GMP, HACCP) and quality systems; experience with regulatory submissions is a plus.
- Proficient in experimental design (DOE), data analysis, and documentation; proficient in data-driven decision making.
- Excellent communication, presentation, and cross-functional collaboration skills; fluent in English and Bahasa Indonesia.
- Creative problem-solver with a proactive attitude and strong project management abilities.