Head - Product Development (Oil & Fats) - West Africa

Department: R&D / Research & Development

Key Responsibilities

• Innovation Leadership
• Drive development of innovative product concepts aligned with consumer trends and market demands.
• Lead technology-driven advancements in product formulations and processing techniques.
• Build a pipeline of differentiated, high-impact products across relevant categories.

• Product Development & Optimization

• Lead formulation and process development for oils, fats, emulsions, and related products.
• Improve quality, functionality, shelf life, and cost-efficiency of existing product portfolio.
• Implement value engineering programs to optimize cost without compromising quality.

• Sustainability & Cost Efficiency

• Integrate sustainable practices into product design, ingredient sourcing, and processing.
• Promote the use of locally sourced raw materials to optimize supply chain and costs.
• Support environmentally responsible innovation aligned with long-term sustainability goals.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Partner with marketing, manufacturing, supply chain, and quality teams to ensure successful product commercialization.
• Provide technical leadership during scale-up, industrial trials, and plant implementation.
• Collaborate with external partners, suppliers, and research institutions as required.

• Regulatory & Compliance Management

• Ensure all product developments comply with local and international food regulations.
• Maintain adherence to GMP, GHP, and other quality and safety standards.
• Oversee documentation, specifications, and compliance protocols.

• Market & Consumer Insights

• Conduct market research and consumer studies to identify trends, opportunities, and gaps.
• Translate consumer insights into actionable product strategies.
• Track emerging technologies and ingredient innovations relevant to category growth.

Key Challenges

• Increasing utilization of local/raw materials in product development
• Balancing innovation with cost constraints and commercial viability
• Navigating evolving regulatory frameworks across markets
• Anticipating consumer behavior and emerging trends
• Integrating global best practices with local market insights

Planning Responsibilities

• Macro Level: Plan and execute pilot and full-scale production trials
• Micro Level: Design and conduct sensory evaluation studies and validation protocols

Job Dimensions / Competencies

• Strong ability to prioritize, multitask, and meet deadlines under pressure
• Structured, analytical thinking with excellent problem-solving capability
• High degree of independence and ownership in delivering results
• Strong leadership and strategic thinking abilities
• Effective communication skills in multicultural environments
• Proven stakeholder management, negotiation, and influencing skills
• Highly organized with excellent program management capabilities

Technical Expertise

• Deep knowledge of food science, particularly lipid systems and emulsions
• Expertise in food discovery, development, and commercialization processes
• Strong understanding of regulatory frameworks (GMP, GHP, food safety standards)
• Experience with sensory science and shelf-life assessment
• Strong technical documentation and report writing skills

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Sensory quality and shelf-life performance
• New product development effectiveness and efficiency
• Project success rate (hit rate)
• Continuous improvement in existing product quality
• Cost optimization and value engineering outcomes
• Timely execution of NPD projects and milestones
• Development and maintenance of raw material and specification databases

Education Requirements

• Minimum: Bachelor s degree in Food Science or related field
• Preferred: Master s degree in Food Science or related discipline

Experience Requirements

• Minimum: 10 years of experience in the food industry
• Proven experience in oils, fats, spreads, mayonnaise, or emulsified products
• Preferred: Strong experience in R&D and end-to-end product development
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