Associate Manager- Product Development

The incumbent will be responsible for leading lab-scale trials and driving new product innovation in the food industry, especially in bakery applications. The role involves end-to-end product development, ingredient sourcing, cost optimisation, technical documentation and cross-functional collaboration with Marketing, Operations and Quality teams. Roles & Responsibilities • Conduct lab-scale trials for new product development • Identify, evaluation and source required ingredients for NPD initiations • Optimise recipes for cost-effectiveness and ensure continuous product improvement • Provide training and technical support to junior staff and marketing teams • Develop and standardise specifications for various types of refined wheat flours • Monitor laboratory analyses, interpret test results and prepare detailed reports • Document all phases of the R&D process, from concept to commercial roll-out • Design and implement testing protocols for raw materials and finished goods • Understand customer expectations and translate them into manufactured goods • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align on project goals and priorities Requirements • Strong knowledge of bakery ingredients and their interactions • Understanding of the physical, chemical and rheological parameters of wheat flour (maida) • Hands-on experience with farinograph, alveograph, mixolab and extensograph • Familiarity with food additives used in bakery and milling industries • Technical expertise in bakery products such as bread, buns, pizza, croissants and noodles • Understanding of FSSAI regulations and compliance norms • Knowledge of flour milling technology • Awareness of wheat varieties specific to the Indian subcontinent