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

R&D Manager - Ice Cream