R&D Manager (Research and Development) Multinational F&B Group📣 إعلان

Role Overview

eMagine Solutions is seeking an R&D Manager for a multinational F&B group headquartered in North America. This full-time position is based in Jeddah, Makkah, Saudi Arabia, and focuses on leading the transformation of new ideas into commercially successful products at scale within the group's expanding operations.

Core Responsibilities

• Lead the full new product development (NPD) pipeline across beverages, pastries, bakery, and food items, from early concepts and bench trials through sensory testing, feasibility, industrialisation, and national rollout.
• Partner with Culinary, Marketing, Supply Chain, Quality Assurance, Operations, and Finance to ensure product launches meet taste, quality, margin, speed-of-service, and food safety standards.
• Identify and onboard suitable suppliers and co-manufacturers for outsourced product development.
• Brief suppliers on specifications and brand standards, conduct trials and sample approvals, and verify factory capabilities meet quality and compliance benchmarks.
• Manage technical specifications and cost targets in collaboration with Procurement and Supply Chain.
• Build long-term supplier relationships to drive continuous improvement, innovation, and cost optimisation.

Product Lifecycle Management

• Own the innovation calendar and stage-gate process, guiding cross-functional project teams through milestones with pace and clarity.
• Conduct feasibility studies covering cost, equipment, shelf-life, packaging, and operational complexity before launch approval.
• Lead post-launch reviews, utilising sales performance, customer feedback, and operational insights to refine future development.
• Maintain strong documentation discipline, including complete product files with formulations, specifications, costings, allergen matrices, and shelf-life data, in close collaboration with QA to validate packaging integrity and production readiness.

Team Leadership and Operations

• Coach and develop the R&D team, including chefs, product developers, and coordinators.
• Manage the R&D budget, covering ingredient trials, sampling, supplier development, and equipment.
• Ensure the R&D kitchen/lab operates according to professional food-safety standards.

Candidate Requirements

The ideal candidate will possess 5-10 years of experience leading New Product Development (NPD) in high-volume environments. This role requires an individual adept at balancing creativity with structure, speed, and commercial outcomes.

Application Process

Candidates interested in this R&D Manager position are invited to apply through eMagine Solutions.