Technical Manager – Pet Food

Job Description: Level Up is looking for an experienced Technical Manager – Pet Food to lead the development and innovation of pet food products from concept to launch. The role will oversee product R&D, raw materials, packaging, costing, testing, scale-up, shelf-life studies, troubleshooting, and regulatory compliance.

The ideal candidate should have strong expertise in Pet Care and Animal Nutrition, excellent technical and analytical skills, and the ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop commercially viable pet food products.

Key Responsibilities

Lead pet food product development from concept to launch. Optimize formulations, ingredients, raw materials, and packaging. Manage pilot testing, scale-up, shelf-life studies, and troubleshooting. Review product costing and identify cost-saving opportunities. Manage project budgets, timelines, and priorities. Ensure compliance with pet food safety and regulatory requirements.

Monitor market trends, competitors, and customer feedback. Support product innovation and differentiation. Collaborate with internal teams and external suppliers. Lead supplier innovation initiatives, including Innovation Day. Provide technical guidance on product development and improvements. Manage multiple projects while meeting quality and business objectives.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Animal Science, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), or a related field. Certifications in Pet Food Safety and regulatory requirements. At least 10 years of pet food Product R&D experience, preferably in a managerial role. Experience handling raw materials and packaging materials. Strong knowledge of pet food costing and cost optimization.

Experience managing budgets and technical projects. Proven experience in pilot testing, scale-up, shelf-life studies, and troubleshooting. Knowledge of pet food registration, regulatory, legal, and compliance requirements. Strong understanding of pet food market trends and competitor analysis. Excellent technical, analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.

Strong cross-functional collaboration and supplier management skills. Proficient in Microsoft Office and recipe/BOM management software. Excellent English communication skills. Strong leadership and people management skills. Creative, proactive, assertive, open-minded, and results-oriented.