Assistant Manager - R&D, Culinary Foods

Function: R&D, Culinary Foods

Location: Mumbai

Reporting To: Director, Culinary Foods

At Tata Consumer Products Ltd, we stand #Forbetter – Planet, Sourcing, Nutrition, Communities. And #ForBetter Opportunities …. Here’s an exciting one!

How does this Job align to our Strategy?

At the core of Tata Consumer Products' business approach lie six strategic pillars that serve as the foundation for its growth and success: Strengthening & Accelerating our Core Business, Driving Digital and Innovation, Unlocking Synergies, creating a Future-Ready Organization, Exploring New Opportunities and Embedding Sustainability.

This job opportunity closely aligns with one of these key strategic pillars, which is Strengthening & Accelerating our Core Business. The role involves leading Foods Quality Assurance for all manufacturing facilities; own units as well as 3p operations; developing & managing vendors, periodic audits, inspection and testing for Foods products. Specification management, product and process risk assessment. QFS and compliance management for SAP Release Control, product manual and protocol set up.

What are the Key Deliverables in this role?

Financial Outcomes

• Drive and execute the new product development ideas in the pipeline to support for the Foods Categories focused on RTE/ RTC for Tata Sampann, Tata Raasa, S&J, Chings etc. and emerging new value-added categories in both B2B and B2C businesses at TCPL. 
• Lead the NPD strategy for Foods RTE business and ensure robust product pipeline under the supervision of vertical lead which would help to increase the overall RTE B2B & B2C category revenue
• Lead the cost innovation projects for the RTE category to achieve the target cost saving initiatives and outcomes

Customer Service

• Lead the product and process development for Ready to Eat Foods as per provided product briefs by business teams
• Support product cost improvement projects by identifying opportunities in the current business and thereby improving the margins and the company bottom line.
• Identify new vendors and develop / adapt new technologies, materials and processes as part of development initiatives.
• Liaise with cross functional teams for effective executions project work tracks  
• Responsible for delivering all technical aspects of the process/ technology lead initiatives for Foods category & related projects, meeting the targets on timeline, cost, business expectations and consumer acceptance.
• Create product and process specifications including the Technology transfer document/ manufacturing protocol on the prescribed templates/ Specification Management System

Internal Processes

• Lead NPD strategy of RTE Foods to enable delivering incremental revenues through product and process innovations, drive efficiencies and simplifications.
• Be an expert user on R&D processes & systems, Specification management tool (PLM) and Sensory management tool (Red jade), Vega 2.0 etc.
• Key lead to commercialize projects with marketing /operations/ quality and 3rd party
• Interact with stakeholders in Compliance and Analytical to ensure regulatory requirements are met and required documentation made in the Specification Management System.
• Monitor and report on industry trends and innovations for inclusion in the innovation funnel
• Assessment of ingredient and packaging trends and advise implications and opportunities to the business.
• Adhere to Internal processes and procedures and ensuring proper technical documentation (RM specs/FG specs/Trial protocol & reports) of all the technical work carried out

Innovation and Learning

• Keep up to date with food & drinks trends, technology landscape, competitor development and consumer and customer expectations
• Generate new ideas in relation to process/ technology platforms aligned with business priorities
• General upkeep of the NPD laboratory, Storage areas and Pilot plant with assistance, wherever required
• Management of temporary resources and lab attendants, wherever required

What are the Critical success factors for the Role?

• Master’s in food science and technology / food engineering from a reputed institute.
• 5-7 years of professional experience in Foods R&D in Top FMCG organizations.
• Experience in development of RTE/RTC category is highly desirable mainly in gravies and sauces, pasta, noodles, Indian flat breads, mayonnaise, rice-based products etc. for domestic as well as export markets like Europe, USA, Canada, Australia etc.
• Candidates with experience in thermally processed foods like technologies like retort and MATS technology will be added advantage.

What are the Desirable success factors for the Role?

• Creative product/ process development experience and able to demonstrate a thorough understanding of product and process concepts through product prototypes, process flows,  
• Exposure to various thermal processing technologies like retort processing, MATS processing, Canning will be an added advantage
• Good understanding of product development, processing technology, packaging and its interactions with product safety and acceptance
• Good understanding of B2B and B2C businesses with customer first approach
• Excellent analytical skills and attention to detail and ability to multi-task and work with agility
• Experience in managing and positively influencing internal stakeholders.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills