R&D Manager, Singapore - Kemin Food Technologies

We Are Kemin

We are visionaries who see things differently and are inspired by the world around us. We have been dedicated to using applied science to improve the quality of life for over half a century. Committed to feed and food safety, Kemin maintains top-of-the-line manufacturing facilities where over 500 specialty ingredients are made for humans and animals in the global feed and food industries, as well as the health, nutrition, and textile markets. We provide product solutions and options to customers in more than 120 countries.

A privately held, family-owned and operated company, Kemin has more than 3,000 global employees including manufacturing facilities in Belgium, Brazil, China, India, Italy, Russia, Singapore, South Africa and the United States.

The R&D Manager is responsible for driving the organization's technological advancements and ensuring that its products and services meet the highest standards of quality and innovation. The manager is expected to oversee research and development activities, lead a team of scientists, ensure regulatory compliance, manage the quality department and collaborate with other departments within R&D budgets. Additionally, the manager should possess strong technical expertise, leadership skills, and a focus on innovation to achieve the overall business unit leading and lagging indicators.

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Driving Innovation:

• Developing and implementing strategies to foster a culture of innovation and creativity.
• Identifying and pursuing new product or process opportunities.
• Ensuring the organization stays ahead of industry trends and competitors.

Improving Existing Products:

• Overseeing the optimization of existing products to enhance performance, reduce costs, or address customer needs.
• Conducting research to identify opportunities for product improvement to meet customer unmet needs/pain points and industry gaps

Ensuring Regulatory & Quality Compliance:

• Ensuring that all Regulatory activities comply with relevant industry regulations and standards.
• Ensuring quality control tests and inspections to maintain product safety of raw materials and finished goods
• Customer service mindset on managing customer complaints

Managing department resources effectively:

• Developing and managing the R&D budget.
• Allocating resources efficiently to support research projects.
• Monitoring expenditure and identifying cost-saving
• Ensure year on year continuous improvements in department ways of workings to improve productivity – doing more for less by improving efficiencies

Leading and Developing the team

• Recruiting, hiring, and training team members.
• Providing leadership and mentorship to foster a collaborative and innovative work environment.
• Evaluating team performance and providing feedback.

Collaborating with Other Departments:

• Working closely with marketing, sales, production, procurement and finance to ensure successful product development and launch.
• Building relationships with external partners, suppliers, and academic institutions.

In collaboration with the Leadership team, provide strategic directions for Kemin Food Technologies Asia to achieve the business unit leading and lagging indicators.

• A PhD in Food Nutrition/Biochemistry/Microbiology or other related discipline, from a recognized university.
• Innovation: Demonstrates a track record of developing and implementing innovative solutions that drive business growth
• Tech Savvy: Stays up to date on emerging technologies and can effectively apply them to business challenges
• Resourcefulness: Efficiently secures and allocates resources to achieve project goals, even in resource-constrained environments
• Operational Excellence, Stakeholder Balancing, Action Orientation
• People Leadership: Talent Development, Accountability

Working Conditions: The position will operate from Singapore/India and is expected to spend <20% travelling regionally within Asia / internationally to USA. The position is considered 40 hours per week and requires flexibility to take evening calls between Americas, Europe and Asia.