Innovation & Application Manager

Job Description

To lead Brenntag’s India technical team in providing and developing technical solutions to customers across all food segments while working closely and providing advices or sharing experiences with other technical team members in Asia Pacific.  Provide technical support to Blended Solutions Team including conducting application evaluation to verify the performance of various blends.  Build great working relationship and maintain excellent communication with Brenntag’s commercial team as well as key suppliers.

Responsibilities

• To be in-charge of leading Brenntag’s Innovation & Application Team in India to ensure on-time completion of customer projects including problem solving for customers as well as on-time completion of internal application projects to verify the performance of ingredients from various existing suppliers, new suppliers, potential suppliers as well as to verify the performance of blend solutions developed by Brenntag’s Blended Solutions Team. 
• To work closely with commercial (sales) team to ensure rapid response to customers’ needs in order to obtain new business or maintain existing business.
• To collaborate with marketing team in various marketing activities such as Tradeshows or Innovation Days.
• To liaise with Blended Solutions Team to create innovative solution blends and employ best practices to roll out these blends in the market whereby new opportunities leading to new wins could be created.
• As and when needed, to introduce and train new solution blends to technical and commercial team members from other countries or regions.
• To proactively identify opportunities of new products or applications from current, new suppliers & new trends.
• To provide training of Brenntag’s product portfolio (including blend solutions) to commercial team and customers respectively.
• To cooperate with Brenntag’s suppliers in knowledge transfer of food technology.
• To cooperate customer visit with commercial team when necessary for prototype presentation and demonstration.
• To improve competency of the Nutrition Application Laboratory with increased capability along with Regional Safety practice.
• To provide monthly technical summary to Asia Pacific Technical Director.
• To proactively share technical successes or commercial successes with Brenntag’s team members within Asia Pacific or globally.
• To provide advices or support and develop close working relationship with Brenntag’s technical team members located outside of India.

Requirements

• Candidate must possess at least a Degree in Food Science/Food Technology/Food Chemistry/Food Engineer and with relevant technical experience.
• Minimum 10 to 15 years working experience as Food Technologist / Research & Development role in Food & Beverage Industry.
• Preferably with relevant experience across various food segments including exposure to plant-based / hybrid solutions, whether for local or overseas markets.
• Experience in the application of various food ingredients as well as blends of various food ingredients.
• Experience in developing and presenting trends, new solutions and prototypes with customer interface.
• Experience in leading a team of technologists or scientists.
• Quality management exposure preferred, but not required.
• Good knowledge in food nutrition and its application.
• Knowledge or experience in Food safety practice.
• Self-motivated and result oriented.
• Good command of written and spoken English.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to multitask.