Chocolate Product Development Specialist (Tuas Based)

Role overview

This position focuses on creating chocolate products from early lab work through pilot-scale trials and into full manufacturing rollout. The specialist will also support customer-facing technical work across APAC, helping regional teams with product application, sales support, and technical problem-solving. A key part of the role is partnering with R&D, operations, category, and product-line teams to choose suitable raw materials, improve processes, and uncover new product opportunities.

What you will do

• Collaborate with regional technical service partners to uncover customer needs and turn them into product development initiatives.
• Create new chocolate product designs and move them efficiently from concept to manufacturing, while keeping cost, quality, and compliance in mind.
• Run and manage moderately complex projects with limited supervision, including learning plans, resource planning, and timely project updates.
• Recommend and select the right tests to confirm product performance under both in-house production and customer-use conditions.
• Build, improve, and sustain a strong product development and commercialization workflow.
• Support team capability by training, coaching, and mentoring new colleagues.
• Monitor product issues and share findings with cross-functional teams to drive continuous improvement.
• Prepare technical documentation, including reports and datasheets for existing and new SKUs and their applications.
• Handle additional responsibilities as needed.

Qualifications and experience

A bachelor’s degree in food science and technology, or a closely related discipline, is required. The role calls for practical product development experience, including taking ideas from concept through rapid prototyping. Candidates should have at least five years of experience in the confectionery industry and a minimum of two years in a related field. Other minimum requirements may also apply.

Preferred background

Experience in a manufacturing setting and in team-based environments is preferred. The ideal candidate should be comfortable balancing multiple priorities across quality, cost, and productivity, and should bring both hands-on development experience and a structured, improvement-oriented mindset. Strong communication and influencing abilities are important for engaging different audiences, and the ability to plan and prioritize work in line with organizational goals is valued.

Key behaviors

The successful candidate is expected to deliver results consistently, even when conditions are challenging. A customer-focused approach is important when working with both internal and external partners. The role also values curiosity, adaptability, and a willingness to learn new tools and build new capabilities.

Skills and experience gained

• Exposure to continuous improvement methods.
• Deep familiarity with product handling across lab, manufacturing, and testing environments.
• Ability to convert customer needs and market signals into category strategy and a technology roadmap.
• Skill in spotting business opportunities and creating practical implementation plans.
• Strong initiative, along with project and business management capability.
• Experience working collaboratively with cross-functional teams.

Additional information

This role is based in Tuas, Singapore and is a full-time onsite position.