Associate Manager - Product Science

Tata Consumer Products Ltd.

About the Job: Associate Manager: Product Science (R&D; GG5B)



Function: R&D

Location: Bangalore

Reporting To: Director - Product Science

At Tata Consumer Products Ltd, we stand #Forbetter - Planet, Sourcing, Nutrition, Communities. And #ForBetter Opportunities -. Here's an exciting one!

How does this Job align to our Strategy?

At the core of Tata Consumer Products' business approach lie six strategic pillars that serve as the foundation for its growth and success: Strengthening & Accelerating our Core Business, Driving Digital and Innovation, Unlocking Synergies, creating a Future-Ready Organization, Exploring New Opportunities and Embedding Sustainability. This job opportunity closely aligns with more than one of these key strategic pillars, which are Driving Innovation and Exploring New opportunities along with Accelerating our Core Business. The key objective of this role is to drive innovation and scientific excellence in Foods business to advance research and development efforts and foster strategic collaborations and lead the scientific vision to achieve breakthroughs in our R&D initiatives.

Top dimensions:

Geography : India

Direct reports: NA

Complexity of the role: This position operates within a platform-based research vertical designed to drive innovation and scientific rigor across Tata Consumer Products' salt and food business. The Associate Manager - Product Science will be responsible for leading research initiatives that span Salt and spices categories, technologies, claims in these categories and analytical needs of product development.

Matrix Reports: NA

Type of Role: Individual Contributor

Primary Stakeholders: R&D Function heads, Internal R&D Team, Regulatory, Marketing-Salt and Foods team.

What are the Key Deliverables in this role?

Financial Outcomes

• Revenue Growth:

Drive top-line growth by leveraging scientific expertise to develop innovative food products, processes, and applications that expand market share and unlock new revenue streams for the salt and foods business.

• Profitability Enhancement:

Align all research initiatives with the company's profitability targets, ensuring that investments in scientific innovation deliver measurable financial returns and contribute positively to the bottom line.

• Risk Mitigation & Regulatory Compliance:

Proactively identify, assess, and manage risks associated with research, product development, claims and communication. Ensure all activities adhere to regulatory requirements, thereby minimizing potential financial liabilities or setbacks.

Customer Service

• Innovation Partnerships:
  Collaborate with universities and research institutes to identify and pursue innovation opportunities that address evolving customer needs and market trends.
• Analytical Excellence:

Work closely with Analytical Sciences teams to develop new analytical methodologies as required, ensuring robust product claims and supporting high standards of customer trust and satisfaction.

• External Liaison:

Liaise with regulatory agencies such as FSSAI and other relevant industry bodies on technical matters, ensuring compliance and proactively addressing customer safety and quality concerns.

Internal Processes

• Develop proper Internal Systems and Procedures and ensure proper documentation of all the scientific and technical work carried out by the team.
• Ensure IP protection of all the work technical work and cover them by filing patents as and when necessary.
• Execute technical dossier for handing over to internal R&D stakeholders once project is agreed to move into innovation funnel.

Innovation and Learning

• To develop and implement the Science support strategy for TCPL business categories:
• Generate new science led ideas leading to larger business opportunities.
• Develop strategy for new opportunities and develop platforms for disruptive innovation through science and technology.
• Support in developing business strategy by providing scientific & technical inputs and ensure that necessary infrastructure is in place for successful implementation of strategy.
• Drive, execute and deliver innovation-based products in Salt and Foods category.

What are the Critical success factors for the Role?

• Need a postgraduate in life science/ food technology/Analytical/ Nutritional sciences. Preferably with 8-10 years of experience in F&B industry.
• Should have delt with scouting research publications and extracting relevant information, evaluate quality of research and assign weightage to specific publications.
• Should be able to identify specific analytical evaluations needed for moving forward on a project and understand the pros and cons of these evaluations.
• Candidate must have hands on experience in liaising with reputed academic institutions and labs.

What are the Desirable success factors for the Role?

• Good understanding of Patent scan and international patents.
• Managing research, claims, analytical needs of a high growth space category.
• Experience and manage working with cross functional teams with varied expertise and demands