VP - Research Development

About the Role

VP - Research Development at Sappe Public Company Limited. Lead research and product development for food & beverage products, focusing on formulation improvement, regulatory compliance, shelf-life and manufacturing technology development. Onsite, full-time.

Responsibilities

• Research, experiment, and modify existing product formulations to improve product quality, increase variety, and ensure compliance with regulatory standards in different countries.
• Study and analyze information related to new product requirements provided by the Brand and Innovation teams, including project objectives, concept frameworks, and specifications, to support accurate and customer-oriented product development.
• Gather and review manufacturing limitations and standards to integrate technical constraints into the product development process.
• Conduct research, trials, and testing of new products to ensure product safety and quality throughout shelf life, while aligning with the concept and requirements provided by the Brand and Innovation functions.
• Prepare and compile documents related to nutritional registration, including necessary data for submission to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other relevant authorities, such as Halal certification bodies.
• Prepare detailed product documentation, from raw material specifications to FDA registration numbers, to ensure all internal stakeholders have accurate and complete information for operational purposes.
• Support the trial production process in actual manufacturing conditions (test runs) to ensure smooth integration of new product lines into real-world production.
• Research and analyze alternative raw materials or backup sources to increase sourcing flexibility in case of raw material shortages and reduce production costs.
• Conduct research focused on manufacturing technology development aimed at modernizing production processes, improving efficiency, and reducing costs to strengthen the organization’s competitive advantage.
• Carry out other duties as assigned by the supervisor or management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Food Science, Food Technology, Chemistry, Biotechnology, or related fields.
• Over 5 years of experience in product development, R&D, or the food manufacturing industry.
• Strong understanding of product formulation, shelf-life testing, food safety, and regulatory requirements (e.g., Thai FDA, Halal, nutrition labeling).
• Familiarity with manufacturing processes and production constraints in real plant environments.
• Experience in sourcing raw materials and evaluating alternative ingredients is a plus.
• Proficient in documentation preparation for regulatory submissions.
• Strong research, analytical, and problem-solving skills; ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and work under time constraints.
• Good communication and collaboration skills for cross-functional teamwork (e.g., with Marketing, Regulatory, Production).
• Curious, detail-oriented, and proactive with a continuous improvement mindset.
• Good command of English, especially in technical documentation, is an advantage.