Product Development Manager

Olam Food Ingredients (ofi) is a global leader offering naturally good food & beverage ingredients and solutions. ofi commenced operations in Vietnam in 1997, setting up its representative office. Since then, we have established an extensive presence across different parts of Vietnam, including our head office in Ho Chi Minh City and regional offices in Binh Dinh, Long An, Dong Nai, Phu Yen, Lam Dong and Gia Lai Provinces. ofi Vietnam is currently the largest exporter of Cashews, Pepper & Instant Coffee in Vietnam, investing in the state-of-the-art instant coffee facility and running 7 large factories with 7,500 employees across Central & South Vietnam. Our operations have an interface with a farmer network of 2 million farmers. We are also amongst the largest exporter of Green Coffee in Vietnam. We have established sustainability programmers for black pepper, coffee & cashew. We are excited about our prospects in Vietnam as the country has huge potential in agriculture.Job overviewThe Product Development Manager will be responsible for driving innovation and product development within our coconut product range, focusing on creating new and improved products for the export market. This role encompasses the entire product lifecycle from concept generation and formulation to process development, quality assurance, and launch support. The ideal candidate will possess a strong technical background, a passion for product innovation, and a deep understanding of food industry trends and export market requirements.Key responsibilities1. New Product Development & Product Improvement: - Lead the development of new and innovative coconut-based beverage and food products, including but not limited to: coconut milk, coconut water, and virgin coconut oil.- Continuously improve existing product formulations to enhance product quality, cost-effectiveness, and consumer appeal.- Stay abreast of consumer trends, competitor activities, and emerging technologies in the food and beverage industry, particularly within the coconut and health & wellness sectors, to identify new product opportunities.- Resolve issues related to product formulation and processing, working closely with the Quality team.2. Product Design & Specification Development: - Develop detailed product specifications, including raw material requirements, formulations, processing parameters, packaging specifications, and quality control standards.- Select and evaluate raw materials and ingredients to ensure product quality, functionality, regulatory compliance, and cost-effectiveness.- Create product prototypes that meet consumer needs, quality standards, and regulatory requirements, considering factors such as taste, texture, appearance, shelf-life, and functionality.3. Project Management & Cross-functional Coordination: - Develop and manage product development project plans.- Coordinate and collaborate effectively to ensure smooth product development and launch processes.- Prepare and present project updates and reports to management and relevant stakeholders.4. Technical Support: - Provide technical support to the Quality Assurance team to address quality issues.- Respond to customer technical inquiries and requirements, providing product information and technical solutions.5. Strategic Input & Consultation: - Consult with senior management on new product opportunities and strategic product development directions.- Contribute to the development of the company's product development strategy and innovation roadmap.