Head – R&D & Innovation (Food Solutions)

Function:

Industry:

Requirement:

About Knoxx Foods

based in Australia.

Knoxx Innovation Centre,

What you will build:

You will establish the entire Knoxx Innovation Centre—its R&D systems, QA protocols, digital documentation, confidentiality framework, vendor governance structure, and product development pipeline.

Key Responsibilities:

Product Development & Commercialisation

• Lead development of

  coatings, blends, and seasonings

  across multiple categories (chips, chicken, fish, snacks, meals, etc.).
• Translate chef prototypes into

  stable, scalable commercial formulations

  .
• Conduct pilot trials and manage transition to commercial manufacturing.
• Develop processing parameters, specifications, and BOMs.

Retort Solutions

• Develop and scale

  retort-based food components

  .
• Define thermal processing, packaging, and stability standards.
• Ensure compliance with domestic and export norms.

Build the Knoxx R&D Centre

• Establish all R&D SOPs, workflows, and documentation frameworks.
• Implement a

  100% paperless working model

  to ensure confidentiality.
• Create stability, testing, and sensory evaluation systems.

Vendor & Sub-vendor Governance

• Build and enforce end-to-end vendor and sub-vendor control protocols.
• Ensure all RM/PM and processes follow Knoxx-approved specifications.
• Conduct periodic audits and ensure compliance with quality and confidentiality standards.

RM/PM & Process Standardisation

• Develop master specifications for all raw and packaging materials.
• Implement periodic validations, checks, and improvements.

Quality Assurance Oversight at Production Facilities

• Supervise and ensure QA compliance at all co-manufacturing and production facilities.
• Verify that approved RM/PM, processes, and specifications are consistently followed.
• Review batch records, deviations, corrective actions, and QA controls.
• Ensure food safety systems (HACCP, QMS, sanitation, retort checks, etc.) are adhered to.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work with the Sydney-based R&D Chef for customization and customer insights.
• Coordinate with procurement for RM planning and with the pricing analyst for costing inputs.
• Support sales with technical knowledge and customer demos.

Execution & Launch Management

• Lead commercialisation of priority formulations defined by management.
• Ensure manufacturing readiness, packaging alignment, and stability validation.

What Success Looks Like (KPIs)

Technical & Commercial

• Timely launch of coatings, blends, seasonings, and retort solutions.
• High customer acceptance and repeat demand.

Quality & Compliance

• Zero major quality deviations at production sites.

• Consistency across batches and co-man facilities.
• 100% adherence to food safety and QA protocols.

Operational

• Fully operational Knoxx R&D Centre with digital systems.
• All vendors/sub-vendors approved and compliant.
• Zero confidentiality breaches.

Required Experience

• Degree in Food Technology / Food Processing.
• 7+ years experience in R&D/NPD for seasonings, coatings, instant blends, RTE/RTC foods, or retort categories.
• Exposure to run paperless lab
• Experience in scaling products from pilot to commercial manufacturing.
• Strong background in

  QA systems, HACCP, BRC, and process validation

  .
• Experience with vendor audits and co-manufacturing oversight.

Why Join Knoxx Foods

• Build an Innovation Centre from the ground up.
• Leadership scope with real influence on company direction.
• Opportunity to create next-generation food solutions for global markets.