Research And Development Manager

SolveCube is an award winning AI enabled Talent Solutions Platform for middle and senior level professionals. SolveCube is working with global consulting firms, mid and large enterprises across Asia Pacific and Middle East to fulfill their talent needs for permanent, short-term, part-time, interim and turnkey assignments.

One of our clients, is Central Africas and Middle East most diversified business conglomerates focused on carbonated soft drinks, flavored beverages, whisky, wine and water. Progressively, the founders entered into the business of construction, mining, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, agriculture, tourism & travels and became leaders too.

They are looking for Manager Research & Development (Whisky/Spirits)

Job Location : Hyderabad, India (with significant international travel)

About the Company

We are an international business group currently undergoing aggressive expansion across Africa and the Middle East. With a robust portfolio of beverage alcohol brands, we are establishing new production facilities and upgrading existing ones to meet global demand. We are looking for high-agency senior professionals to lead our R&D function from our Hyderabad hub.

Role Summary

We are seeking a Manager Research & Development with a specialized focus on Whisky. You will be the technical backbone of our innovation pipeline. This role is not just about lab work; it requires end-to-end project ownershipfrom conceptualizing a new whisky variant to ensuring it survives the harsh climatic conditions of the Middle East and Africa during transit and storage.

You will lead new product development, optimize shelf-life, and ensure seamless technology transfer from the Hyderabad pilot plant to high-speed commercial lines across our international locations.

Key Responsibilities

1. Innovation & New Product Development (NPD)

• Lead the end-to-end development of new whisky variants (premium blends, single malts, flavored whiskies) aligned with consumer trends in Africa and the Middle East.
• Drive formulation design including grain bill selection, yeast strain optimization, and wood management (cask finishing/aging techniques).
• Develop products specifically designed for warm climate aging and distribution.

2. Process Optimization & Scale-Up

• Execute plant trials and handle the scale-up tech transfer from R&D lab to manufacturing plants.
• Troubleshoot production issues related to distillation, blending, chill-filtration, and bottling.
• Improve yield and reduce production costs without compromising sensory profiles.

3. Shelf-Life & Quality Assurance

• Spearhead shelf-life optimization studies specific to export markets.
• Analyze the impact of extreme temperatures/humidity on product stability during shipping (Middle East/Africa routes).
• Implement rapid aging protocols and stability testing methodologies.

4. Regulatory & Compliance

• Ensure all formulations meet regulatory compliance for target markets (including ingredient declaration, maximum allowable limits, and import tariffs related to specific raw materials).
• Maintain comprehensive documentation for audits and new market registrations.

5. Travel & Cross-Functional Leadership

• Open to extensive travel (up to 30-40%) to manufacturing sites and market locations across Africa and the Middle East.
• Train local production teams in new process implementation.
• Collaborate with marketing, procurement, and supply chain teams to ensure business viability of R&D projects.

Qualifications & Experience Essential:

• Education: Masters degree in Food Technology, Brewing/Distilling, Microbiology, Biochemistry, or Chemical Engineering.
• Experience: Minimum 5+ years of relevant experience in R&D/Product Development specifically within the Alcoholic Beverage/Spirits industry.
• Industry Background: Must come from a Beverage Manufacturing setup (e.g., Pernod Ricard, Diageo, AB InBev, Carlsberg, Radico Khaitan, John Distilleries, or high-volume independent bottlers/distillers).