Job Title -
Senior Food Technologist
Department - Research & Development (R&D) / Product Innovation / Quality & Compliance
Reporting To
Head of R&D / Technical Director / Chief Operating Officer (as applicable)
Job Location - Navi Mumbai
Job Purpose
The Senior Food Technologist is responsible for leading the development, improvement, and commercialization of food products while ensuring compliance with regulatory, quality, and safety standards. This role plays a strategic part in driving innovation, optimizing formulations, enhancing product quality, improving shelf life, and supporting business growth through technical expertise and cross-functional collaboration.
Key Responsibilities
Product Development & Innovation
- Lead end-to-end product development from concept to commercialization.
- Develop new formulations, optimize recipes, and improve existing products for quality, cost efficiency, and scalability.
- Conduct product trials, pilot runs, and factory-scale validations.
- Identify emerging trends, ingredients, and technologies to drive innovation.
Technical & Scientific Expertise
- Apply food science principles related to chemistry, microbiology, processing, and preservation.
- Troubleshoot formulation and processing challenges.
- Improve product shelf life, stability, texture, taste, and nutritional profile.
- Evaluate raw materials and approve alternative ingredient sources.
Quality, Safety & Compliance
- Ensure compliance with food safety regulations, labeling standards, and regulatory requirements (e.g., FSSAI, FDA, or applicable authorities).
- Support implementation and maintenance of HACCP, GMP, and food safety systems.
- Assist quality and manufacturing teams in resolving technical and quality issues.
Process Optimization & Commercialization
- Work closely with manufacturing to ensure smooth product scale-up and production transfer.
- Optimize production processes for efficiency, yield, and consistency.
- Support cost reduction initiatives without compromising product quality.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Collaborate with Procurement, Quality Assurance, Marketing, and Operations teams.
- Provide technical guidance to internal stakeholders.
- Support customer requirements, technical presentations, and product customization when required.
Documentation & Reporting
- Maintain detailed product development records, specifications, and technical documentation.
- Prepare technical reports, SOPs, and product specifications.
- Ensure traceability and documentation for audits and regulatory compliance.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Successful development and launch of new products
- Product quality and consistency metrics
- Reduction in formulation and production costs
- Improvement in shelf life and product stability
- Compliance audit success rate
- Speed and efficiency of product development cycles
Qualifications & Experience
Education
- Bachelor's degree in Food Technology, Food Science, Food Engineering, or related field (mandatory)
- Master's degree preferred
Experience
- 815+ years of experience in food product development, food manufacturing, or R&D
- Proven experience in product commercialization and scale-up
- Experience working with regulatory standards and food safety systems
Required Technical Skills
- Strong knowledge of food chemistry, microbiology, and processing
- Product formulation and ingredient functionality expertise
- Shelf-life evaluation and sensory analysis
- Knowledge of HACCP, GMP, and regulatory requirements
- Pilot plant and factory trial experience
- Documentation and technical specification writing
