Material Development Manager

Job Description

Job Description:

The Material Development Manager is responsible for RoyalCanin and Pet nutrition specification harmonization, the objective is to extend Royal Canin approved raw materials to be used in Pet Nutrition product produced in TJN site, This role involves driving these ingredients assessment through specification comparison, follow the assessment process to ensure they are properly assessed for any risks to animal well-being, product quality, and food safety. Additionally, the Material Development Manager will update ingredient specifications, which includes identifying the key attributes to be included in that specification.

Key Responsibilities

1. Specification Harmonization

• Conduct a comprehensive gap analysis of raw material specifications and testing methods between the two factories.

• Develop and implement a unified, company-wide raw material technical standard framework, aligned with global industry benchmarks, regulatory requirements, and business needs.

• Collaborate with R&D, Supplier Quality Assurance (SQA), Production, and PPI to validate, refine, and roll out integrated specification

• Write the specification which include the key attributes into it

2. Technical Alignment & Compliance

• Ensure all integrated specification comply with relevant national/international regulations (e.g., GB, ISO) and internal quality management systems (e.g., ISO 9001, HACCP, GMP).

• Resolve technical discrepancies between the two facilities, balancing operational feasibility, cost efficiency, and product quality.

• Capable of new/updated material risk assessment if needed

3. Cross-Functional Collaboration & Stakeholder Management

• Partners with QFS, supply chain, deploy team and R&D to gather requirements, align priorities, and drive standardization initiatives.

• Lead training sessions and workshops for cross-functional teams to ensure understanding and adherence to the new unified specification if necessary

4. Continuous Improvement & Performance Monitoring

• Establish KPIs to track the effectiveness of integrated specification (e.g., material consistency, quality deviation reduction, supply chain efficiency).

• Conduct regular audits and reviews of standard implementation, identifying opportunities for optimization and continuous improvement.

Context and Scope

The Material Development Manager as a key interface between the SQA team, suppliers, and various internal stakeholders, such as R&D, Sourcing & Operation, Q&FS, Manufacturing, and Regulatory Affairs. The role requires a balance of technical expertise, strategic thinking, and effective communication and stakeholder management to leverage the knowledge to speed up the process and bring the efficiency

Education & Professional Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Nutrition, Food Science, Food Technology or equivalent. Advance degree preferred.

Knowledge / Experience

• Minimum 5 years of experience in R&D, NPD, SQA etc

• Knowledge in functionality of raw materials with cross category experience.

• Track record in leadership & delivery of complex technical projects/programs

• Actively builds collaborative and effective relationships with partners across the business.

• Ability to manage pressure in demanding situations.

• Experience in people leadership including coaching and supporting the development of individuals and teams.

• Excellent communication skills, written and oral