Research & Development Manager

Job description / Role

Salary AED 18,000 + Leave Salary + Gratuity + Airfare + Family Insurance.

The R&D Manager is responsible for the implementation and maintenance of Foodco R&D elements. This includes technical management, regulatory compliance, sustainability, nutrition, claims clearance and challenge management, promotional support, issues management and crisis management. Most importantly to work closely with Marketing and branding to develop products that will drive brand building through innovations and new launches.

Conduct admin on product catalogue, specifications and handling requirements for Suppliers, Customers and within Foodco.

The R&D Manager assists in brand building by providing as necessary relevant input and insights for the successful implementation & activation of products and brands in the markets.
- Support the Marketing/Brand Development team in their projects.
- Business partner/Support the implementation of new product developments including legal conformity, nutritional aspects, claims check, clearance of promotional items, quality performance monitoring, etc.
- Assist in translating legal requirements into appropriate input for the Categories/ Development plans. This includes local needs (taste/regulatory compliance), distribution & usage conditions, and secondary packaging requirements.
- Liaise with external R&D Design and marketing teams (RDCs) and supply chain particularly regarding technical execution of projects as appropriate.
- Local specification management and artwork approval.
- Provision of technical support to the Quality function & Careline.
- Monitor consumer complaints and raise with Quality and Marketing.
- Participate in the wider Deploy team for launches. Assess new product performances and come up with corrective actions to meet targets.
- Assists resolution of operational issues across functions: Supply Chain, Commercial, Finance, IT etc and external partners.

Requirements

- Bachelor degree in relevant field.
- Engineering background in Food Science & Technology
- Relevant experience in FMCG (Multinationals) as well as local food entities may be a plus
- Fluent in English (Read and write)
- Project Management skills
- Understanding claims and risk management
- Conversant with Microsoft Office software such as power point, Excel, Word and Microsoft Project Management will be an advantage.

Core Skills & competencies
- Leadership Behaviours
- Real Accountability
- Action not Debate
- Team Alignment

About the Company

Foodco Holding was established in 2006 to reflect the growing diversity of the group, which had seen the establishment of a number of companies under the banner of Abu Dhabi National Foodstuff Company (Foodco) presently and was established in Abu Dhabi in 1979 as a public share holding entity under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of U.A.E , these former divisions operate as standalone subsidiaries of Foodco Holding.

Supported by a dedicated team of approximately 500 employees, Foodco Holding continues to evolve, excelling in terms of expansion and innovation, with operations covering the food sector, retail, packaging, catering, restaurant franchising and other areas.

As a testament to our success, a 2011 survey conducted by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade entitled Success Stories of 110 UAE-based International Investors recognized Foodco Holding as one of the countrys seven most accomplished companies in the food industry sector.