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R&D Specialist

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Job ID 320956 Date posted 01/20/2026 Location : Tokyo, Japan Category  RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT Job Status  Salaried Full Time

Job Purpose and Impact

The R&D Specialist, will coordinate, align and innovate through development and implementation of new and existing products. In this role, you will assist other scientists by providing technical guidance to new product development for product line growth and the creation of new capabilities and technical solutions to meet business goals.

Key Accountabilities

  • Stay current with literature and analytical advancements.
  • Apply market data to take advantage of opportunities and minimize adverse trends.
  • Develop documentation and intellectual property protection formula and processes.
  • Provide input and technical guidance on products, process development and improvement, quality systems and regulatory oversight.
  • Partner with cross functional teams that include marketing, insights, sales, ops, product safety quality and regulatory.
  • Collaborate with insights, research and commercial brand on short and long term testing programs for experimental and commercial products and hybrids.
  • Work with sales, business management and marketing partners to assist in identifying customer needs and translate these into new food product development opportunities.
  • Handle basic issues and problems under direct supervision, while escalating more complex issues to appropriate staff.
  • Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent experience

Preferred Qualifications

  • Preferred Qualifications

    Foundational understanding of product development, analytical testing, and marketing strategy

    Experience working in a manufacturing environment

    Basic knowledge of finance and general business principles

    Experience in operations-related roles

    Product management experience

    Experience in food formulation and product commercialization

    Knowledge of food ingredients and their functional properties

    Research and development experience

    Strong familiarity with food products and the ability to adapt flexibly to changes in critical business systems

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