Food Research Lab – Nutraceuticals & Functional Foods Formulation Specialists 

Job Function/Role Summary:

This role will be based in Chennai and nutraceuticals, functional food & beverages/drink product development scientists perform product and process development activities including testing of prototypes, competitive products, and production samples. Document ingredients, formulations, processes, and testing involved with new product research and development or enhancements to existing products. You will also participate in sensory evaluations and trials of products. 

Required Qualification:

Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in food science, Nutrition, or a related field; a Master’s degree is preferred. 

Required Experience:

Experience: 3-5 years of experience in applications, technical service, or formulation within the nutraceutical or food & beverage industry. 

Job Position code: CRMP/CEFB-SJR-P1-GG9 
Segment: Manufacturers, and Start-ups
Sector: Food & Beverages
Job Title: Food & Beverages Formulation Specialists
Department: Food Research Lab
Reports To: FRL Business Operations Head 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities  

• Product Development: Lead the development of new food and beverage products or the enhancement of existing ones, ensuring alignment with strategic business objectives and customer needs. Focus on specific products and projects with defined scopes, receiving direct guidance from the Senior Food Technologist. 

• Formulation and Design: Develop and establish product formulations based on industry trends, market and consumer research, and customer requirements. Ensure product designs meet both internal and external expectations. 

• Market and Technology Research: Continuously research markets and emerging technologies to innovate and develop new product concepts, staying ahead of industry trends. 

• Premix Formulation Development: Develop premix formulas and provide support for quotations based on customer requirements or concepts created by FRL across various product areas. 

• Team Supervision: Oversee junior formulators and R&D technicians, ensuring effective guidance and support throughout the formulation process. 

• Technical Communication: Collaborate with customer managers, clients, and the technical team to provide expert recommendations on premix formulations and ingredient selections. 

• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure all ingredients comply with customer specifications and regulatory standards, maintaining adherence to industry guidelines. 

• Research and Approval: Conduct research, evaluate, and approve manufacturing processes, raw materials, and blends for their suitability in production as required. 

• Project Management: Manage complex application projects, offering technical recommendations both internally and externally, and ensure the resolution of technical challenges. 

• Product Testing and Commercialization: Support the entire product development process, from bench testing and scale-up to commercialization, following the guidelines established in the Project Initiation Request. This includes optimizing product attributes, controlling development and production costs, and adhering to timelines. Assist with scheduling plant tests and determining product disposal, with on-site support during tests to gain product and process experience. 

• Nutritional, Regulatory, and Compliance Support: Ensure that all product formulations meet nutritional adequacy and compliance standards by applying statistical data from key raw materials. Develop label decks considering all potential processing locations and regulatory guidelines. Submit products for analytical or animal testing as required and summarize the results. 

• Process and Supply Chain Support: Provide support for process optimization and supply chain initiatives, including formula transfers among plants, evaluation of new raw material suppliers, and adjustments to existing materials and processing parameters. Assist in testing and troubleshooting to ensure consistent product quality. 

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Lead cross-functional teams throughout the new product development process, including briefing, ideation, exploration, and specification finalization. 

• Project Management: Track and manage product development projects, regularly report on progress, and make actionable recommendations to ensure successful outcomes. 

• Supplier Collaboration: Partner with external ingredient suppliers to achieve product development goals and explore opportunities for innovation. 

• ISO 9001:2015 Compliance: Responsible for maintaining reports and documentation in compliance with ISO 9001:2015 standards, working closely with Quality Control (QC) to ensure all products meet regulatory and quality requirements

Work Schedule:
Full Time, Monday to Saturday, 10:00a.m. to 7:00pm. Hours may vary on occasion, depending on workload.

Skills Required:

• Technical Skills: Strong proficiency in SAP and a thorough understanding of regulatory compliance, including GMP, GRAS, and HACCP standards. 

• Communication & Presentation: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, coupled with strong presentation abilities. 

•  Work Ethic & Independence: Ability to work independently with minimal supervision while maintaining high productivity and attention to detail. 

• Professionalism: Demonstrates the ability to remain calm and positive under pressure and effectively interact with personnel at all levels within the organization. 

• Reporting & Documentation: Capable of writing routine reports and correspondence with precision. 

• Motivation & Creativity: Must be self-motivated, detail-oriented, and passionate about creativity in product development. 

• Assertiveness & Compliance: Ability to enforce procedures and address deviations confidently and appropriately. 

• Problem-Solving: Exceptional problem-solving skills with a results-oriented mindset, dedicated to achieving team and organizational goals. 

• Adherence to SOPs: Must follow written SOPs/work instructions meticulously. 

• Flexibility: Willingness to work flexible hours, including daily overtime and occasional weekends, as needed. 

• Travel: Periodic domestic travel and occasional international travel required (approximately 10%).  

Reach us:

Human Resource
Mail Id: [email protected]
Contact Number: 9566269922