Product Development Manager /Senior Food Technologist

Role Summary

The Product Development Manager/Sr. Food Technologist leads technical product development across salty snacks portfolio — including chips, extruded snacks, and baked products. The role drives the innovation pipeline, ensuring that all products meet sensory, cost, and regulatory requirements while maintaining company reputation for quality and consumer appeal.

Key Responsibilities

A. Product Development & Innovation

• Lead the formulation, bench development, and pilot-plant trials for new salty snack products.
• Work with Marketing to translate consumer insights into viable product concepts.
• Optimize formulations for cost, functionality, and sensory performance.
• Develop flavor and seasoning systems in partnership with suppliers.
• Coordinate sensory evaluations and shelf-life studies.

B. Process Development

• Own the technical validation of new products on production lines (extruders, fryers, and dryers).
• Collaborate with Engineering on new equipment commissioning and process setup.
• Establish and document process parameters, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and line capability studies.
• Drive yield and oil absorption optimization.

C. Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with QA, Procurement, and Operations to ensure successful scale-up.
• Support Marketing in preparing product specifications, claims, and packaging validations.
• Liaise with supply chain and finance teams to cost models and margin targets.

D. Continuous Improvement

• Analyze process data and implement improvements in product stability, quality, and efficiency.
• Benchmark KITCO’s snack products against global competitors.
• Stay up to date on ingredient innovations, healthier oil alternatives, and flavor trends.

E. Leadership & Documentation

• Manage R&D technologists or assistants assigned to snack development.
• Maintain full technical documentation: formulations, process sheets, trial reports, and product specifications.
• Ensure full compliance with Mezzan’s HSE and Food Safety policies.

• 10–15 years’ experience in savory snack manufacturing (extruded, pellet, and potato-based products).
• Proven track record of developing commercially successful products in regional or international snack companies.
• Strong understanding of formulation, processing, and frying systems (pellet frying, batch, and continuous lines).
• Capable of managing pilot trials, scale-up, and industrial validation in collaboration with operations and quality.
• Familiar with seasoning systems, oil management, shelf-life testing, and packaging interactions.
• Excellent project management and cross-functional coordination skills (Marketing, Procurement, QA, and Manufacturing).
• Ideally experienced with Middle East markets and consumer preferences.