Amalfi Foods Hiring for Research And Development Specialist at محافظة العاصمة المنامة البحرين Full Time

Research and Development (R&D) Specialist

Department: Product Development & Innovation

Reports to: CEO

Location: Hamala & Hidd, Kingdom of Bahrain

Position Overview

The R&D Specialist will play a key role in the innovation and development of new bakery products and improvement of existing product lines under Amalfi Foods’ portfolio — including pancakes, waffles, croissants, and upcoming ranges. The role combines food science, product formulation, sensory evaluation, and process optimization to deliver high-quality, scalable, and market-ready products that align with Amalfi’s brand standards and regional growth strategy.

Key Responsibilities1. Product Innovation & Development

• Research, formulate, and develop new bakery and confectionery products aligned with market trends and consumer needs.
• Adapt international product concepts to local and regional taste preferences.
• Create prototypes, conduct trials, and optimize recipes for industrial-scale production.
• Work closely with the Founder to translate creative ideas into commercially viable products.

2. Process Optimization

• Improve existing formulations for better texture, shelf life, and cost efficiency.
• Support scale-up from lab trials to full production on industrial lines.
• Document process parameters and establish Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for new products.

3. Quality & Compliance

• Ensure all new formulations comply with Bahrain and GCC food regulations, shelf-life standards, and labeling requirements.
• Collaborate with QA/QC and Production teams to ensure consistent quality and safety in product trials and releases.
• Conduct sensory evaluations and product benchmarking against leading brands.

4. Market & Trend Research

• Monitor bakery trends, ingredients, technologies, and packaging innovations globally.
• Benchmark Amalfi’s product range against regional and international competitors.
• Identify opportunities for cost innovation, reformulation, and product diversification.

5. Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work with Procurement to source new raw materials and packaging suitable for production.
• Coordinate with Marketing and Sales to support product launch strategies and consumer testing.
• Collaborate with Engineering and Production to ensure smooth transfer from lab to plant.

6. Documentation & Reporting

• Maintain R&D records including recipes, trial results, and production parameters.
• Prepare detailed reports and recommendations for management review.
• Support certification programs (e.g., ISO, HACCP, Halal) by providing R&D documentation and data.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Bakery Science, or a related field.
• Minimum 3–5 years of experience in product development within an industrial bakery or FMCG environment.
• Proven experience in bakery formulation.
• Strong knowledge of ingredients functionality (flours, leavening agents, fats, emulsifiers, flavors, etc.).
• Familiarity with industrial bakery machinery and process flow.
• Excellent project management and problem-solving skills.
• Fluency in English; Arabic is an advantage.

Key Competencies

• Creativity and innovation mindset.
• Strong attention to detail and documentation discipline.
• Excellent sensory evaluation and analytical skills.
• Cross-functional collaboration and communication.
• Ability to manage multiple R&D projects simultaneously.

Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Number of successful new product launches.
• Improvement in product shelf life, cost, or quality.
• Time from concept to market readiness.
• Trial success rate and production efficiency improvements.
• Contribution to export market innovations.