Chocolate Product Development Specialist

Job Purpose and Impact

The Chocolate Product Development Specialist will be responsible for developing chocolate products from laboratory stages through pilot plant scale-up and supporting their commercialization in manufacturing facilities. This role involves providing technical guidance and support to regional customers and technical service teams across the APAC region, focusing on the application and sales of new products. The specialist will collaborate with R&D material specialists and operations teams to select appropriate raw materials and processes, and work with category and product line management to identify new market opportunities and devise innovative technical solutions.

Key Accountabilities

• Collaborate with regional technical service partners to identify customer requirements and transform them into new product development prospects.
• Efficiently and cost-effectively develop and scale up new product designs within manufacturing settings, ensuring adherence to product standards and compliance regulations.
• Manage moderately complex projects with minimal oversight, including developing and aligning learning plans, identifying resource needs, and providing timely updates on project execution.
• Recommend suitable tests to validate product performance in both internal manufacturing environments and customer application scenarios.
• Establish and maintain effective product development and commercialization processes.
• Provide training, coaching, and mentorship to new team members.
• Monitor product-related issues and report data to cross-functional teams to drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Generate technical reports and datasheets for existing and new Stock Keeping Units (SKUs) and their applications.
• Undertake other assigned duties as required.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• A Bachelor's degree in Food Science and Technology or a comparable field.
• Proficiency in product development, including the ability to translate concepts into functional prototypes.
• A minimum of five years of professional experience in the confectionery industry, with at least two years in a related specialization.
• Additional minimum qualifications may be applicable.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working within a manufacturing and team-oriented environment.
• A demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities effectively, balancing needs related to quality, cost, and productivity.
• Hands-on development experience coupled with systemic thinking for performance enhancement.
• Strong communication and influencing capabilities to clearly articulate needs to diverse audiences.
• Skill in planning and prioritizing work to achieve organizational objectives.

Key Behaviors

• Consistently achieve desired outcomes, even under challenging circumstances.
• Maintain a customer-centric approach in collaborations with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Exhibit a growth mindset and agility in adopting new tools and acquiring new competencies.

Skills and Experiences to be Gained

• Exposure to Continuous Improvement methodologies.
• In-depth knowledge of products across laboratory, manufacturing, and testing phases.
• Ability to translate customer needs and market trends into strategic category plans and technology roadmaps.
• Capacity to identify business opportunities and formulate implementation plans for solutions.
• Demonstrated initiative and proficiency in business and project management.
• Skill in fostering collaborative relationships with cross-functional teams.

Additional Information

This role is based in Tuas, Singapore.