Group R&D Specialist

About the job

• Promasidor is seeking multiple Group R&D Specialists across the following categories: Beverages, Culinary, Dairy, and Extrusions (Cereals and Snacks).
• The Group R&D Specialist leads the end-to-end R&D agenda for its category portfolio across all operating markets.
• Reporting to the Group Head, R&D, the role owns the category innovation pipeline, from consumer-led briefs through formulation, scale-up, and commercial launch, and serves as the technical authority for the category across the Group.

Key Responsibilities
Category Strategy & Pipeline:

• Define and own the multi-year R&D plan for the category, aligned with brand, commercial and Group innovation priorities.
• Build and prioritise a fully costed pipeline of new product development, renovation and value-engineering projects.
• Generate proprietary technology, ingredient and process ideas that drive distinctive competitive advantage.

Product Development & Launch:

• Lead end-to-end NPD from concept through formulation, lab and pilot trials, factory scale-up, sensory and consumer validation, and commercial launch.
• Ensure robust documentation: specifications, BOMs, shelf-life dossiers, technical files and launch handovers.

Quality, Regulatory & Food Safety:

• Ensure all category products meet regulatory and food-safety standards across operating markets (NAFDAC, SON, GSA, KEBS, FDB and others) and relevant international standards.
• Partner with Quality and Regulatory teams on labelling, claims, fortification and shelf-life validation.

Cross-Functional Partnership:

• Partner Marketing and Insights to translate consumer briefs into winning technical concepts.
• Partner Procurement and Supply Chain on ingredient qualification, alternative sourcing and multi-source specifications.
• Partner Operations and Engineering on factory readiness, line trials and process robustness.

Technology, Sustainability & External Partnerships:

• Maintain expert command of category flavour systems.
• Identify and evaluate emerging technologies, ingredients and process improvements for the category.
• Build strong working relationships with key suppliers, co-manufacturers and external technical partners.

Team Leadership:

• Lead, coach and develop the category R&D team across markets.
• Set clear objectives, deliver structured feedback and build succession in the category.

Key Qualifications & Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science & Technology, Food Engineering, Chemistry, Nutrition or related discipline; Master's preferred.
• 8–10 years' progressive R&D experience in FMCG, with strong specialisation in the category of interest or closely related categories.
• Hands-on experience with flavour development in a specialist category
• Experience leading small technical teams and managing cross-functional projects.
• Strong project and stage-gate discipline; consumer and commercial mindset.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified. 

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:

Note: This position is open to candidates residing in Promasidor's operating countries across Africa.

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