Lead of R&D / Product Development / Innovation for D2P Consultancy

You will play a crucial role in the company as a Product Development and Innovation Specialist. Your responsibilities will include: - Passionately driving product development, R&D, and innovation in the food industry, focusing on creating new food concepts and better-for-you foods for both the Indian and global markets. - Demonstrating deep technical expertise in food formulations, technologies, processes, PM & RM for developing packaged food products. - Keeping abreast of new food trends and future foods, understanding how to formulate, standardize, and manufacture them in production facilities. - Leading prototyping, development, implementation, and enhancement of food production processes, ensuring alignment with industry standards and regulations. - Supporting sensory evaluations to refine products, extend shelf life, and other improvements. - Assisting in record-keeping including lab reports, product specifications, and technical documents. - Ensuring compliance with FSSAI guidelines and packaging regulations for various food products. - Having knowledge of third-party manufacturers, suppliers, and their capabilities, and facilitating tech transfer to 3PM for manufacturing. - Engaging in market research across food and beverages categories to support product development and quality control. - Collaborating with clients on project management, understanding their requirements, setting timelines, and managing project progress. - Working with internal teams to deliver clients" projects efficiently and effectively. - Mentoring junior team members and fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement within the company. You will be the primary point of contact for all client projects and will have substantial involvement with the founding team and clients of the company. Skills required for this role include: - Degree in Food Science, Food Technology, or a related field (Masters preferred). - Minimum of 8 years of relevant experience in the packaged food ecosystem. - Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for effective teamwork. - Strong knowledge of food technology principles, processes, and regulations. - Leadership potential, initiative-taking ability, and a passion for contributing to the growth and innovation of the food industry. The position is based in Mumbai, specifically in Goregaon West. Candidates from Mumbai or willing to relocate to Mumbai are preferred.,