Senior Manager/Assistant General Manager - Operations - New Product Development - Recipe

Senior Manager/Assistant General Manager - Operations

Designation: Sr Manager / AGM - Operations

Experience : 10-12 years. Need to look out from food industry who have expertise in New product devt, RnD, RTC, etc.

Role Summary:

Responsible for leading the New Product Development (NPD) and Research & Development (R&D) initiatives for the Ready-to-Cook (RTC) and Ready-to-Eat (RTE) food categories, catering to both domestic and international markets.

Key Responsibilities:

Product Innovation & Development:

- Led end-to-end development of new products in the RTC & RTE segments, including:

- Burger Patty: Formulated a variety of patties (chicken, beef, mutton, and plant-based) with optimized texture, juiciness, and flavor.

- Sausage: Developed multiple sausage variants (fresh, smoked, and cured) with a focus on ingredient selection, casing, and shelf-life extension.

- Kebab: Created authentic regional and international kebabs (Shami, Seekh, Galouti, etc.) with optimized binding agents and flavor profiles.

- Salami: Worked on formulation and processing of fermented and cooked salami varieties with a focus on meat curing and fermentation techniques.

- Frozen & Canned Food: Developed heat-and-eat meals, gravies, curries, and frozen snacks, ensuring taste retention, microbial stability, and extended shelf life.

Process Optimization & Scale-Up:

- Designed and implemented pilot trials, evaluating formulations and production processes before commercial-scale manufacturing.

- Worked closely with production, quality, and supply chain teams to optimize processes for cost-effectiveness, scalability, and efficiency.

- Ensured consistency in product quality by refining ingredient functionality and processing parameters.

Sensory & Quality Assurance:

- Conducted sensory evaluations using structured panel testing to optimize taste, texture, and appearance of products.

- Ensured compliance with food safety regulations, FSSAI and other international quality standards for domestic and export markets.

- Managed shelf-life studies and packaging trials to enhance product stability and maintain freshness.

Market Research & Consumer Insights:

- Analysed market trends, competitor products, and consumer preferences to develop innovative and differentiated products.

- Collaborated with marketing & sales teams to ensure product positioning aligned with customer expectations.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

- Worked closely with procurement teams to source high-quality raw materials, ensuring cost optimization without compromising product integrity.

- Partnered with regulatory teams to ensure product labelling, nutritional claims, and ingredient declarations met compliance standards.

- Coordinated with equipment manufacturers to enhance processing efficiency and adopt new technologies.

Commercialization & Launch:

- Managed product trials, validation, and full-scale production leading to successful market launches.

- Developed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and training programs for production teams to ensure smooth transitions from R&D to manufacturing.

- Supported branding, packaging, in coordination with the marketing team.