R&D Director

1.      Strategic Leadership & Product Development (40%)

• Formulate and execute short-term and long-term R&D strategies for both the Export (B2B, Industrial) and Domestic (B2C, F&B Chains, GT/MT) sectors.
• Lead the research, innovation, and development of new product lines derived from Vietnamese tropical fruits (soft-dried/crispy fruits, juice concentrates, purees, and toppings).
• Analyze consumer trends, behaviors, and local palates to "domesticate" products that are traditionally Nafoods' export strengths.
• Apply advanced processing technologies to optimize nutritional value, natural color, and flavor while extending shelf-life without chemical abuse.

2.      Cross-Functional Collaboration & Influence (40%)

• With Marketing & Sales: Partner closely right from the ideation/concept stage. Collaborate with Marketing to decode local consumer insights; work with Sales to evaluate commercial feasibility and target costing to ensure products are market-ready.
• With Supply Chain & Procurement: Sync up to deeply understand raw material availability, crop seasonality, and Nafoods’ farming regions. Optimize formulas based on available supply to minimize supply chain disruptions.
• With Production & Quality Assurance (QA/QC): Ensure seamless technology transfer (tech-transfer) from lab-scale to mass production. Supervise compliance and proactively troubleshoot technical issues at the factories.
• Establish clear cross-functional Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to break down departmental silos and accelerate Time-to-Market.

3.      Team Management & Operations (20%)

• Manage, mentor, and elevate the capabilities of R&D engineers and flavor specialists, instilling a business-driven mindset within the technical team.
• Manage the R&D budget, optimizing research and development costs.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with research institutes, universities, and prestigious global ingredient/technology suppliers.

1.      Education & Professional Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree or higher in Food Technology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, or related fields.
• Minimum of 2–5 years of experience in an equivalent role (R&D Director / R&D Senior Manager) at major FMCG corporations, beverage manufacturers, fruit processing companies.
• Proven track record of successfully launching products for the domestic market (deep understanding of Vietnamese taste profiles, "Clean Label", and health & wellness trends). Experience in export standards is a strong plus.

• Strong market-driven and customer-centric mindset.
• Excellent project management skills with the ability to handle high pressure regarding launch deadlines.

2.      Other Requirements:

• Proficiency in English (for working with international tech partners and supporting the export division).
• Willingness to travel to Nafoods' factories and raw material zones (Nghe An, Long An, Gia Lai, Son La, Binh Thuan, etc.).