About the role

Product Development & Laboratory Manager (R&D)

Bentoli Thailand

Position Description: The Product Development & Laboratory Manager (R&D) is responsible for managing Bentoli Thailand's product development, formulation, research, and laboratory activities. The position plans and carries out research projects assigned by the Director of Research or Head of Business, including the development of new products, improvement of existing products, and evaluation of product performance through laboratory testing, production trials, and field trials. The position is also responsible for the day-to-day management of the laboratory, including laboratory personnel, testing procedures, equipment, safety, documentation, and the development and maintenance of raw material and finished-goods specifications for the company's global operations. All product development activities, laboratory results, formulations, trials, and related research findings must be properly documented and reported to the supervisor on time. The position works closely with the Product Manager, Technical Service team, Production team, Quality team, and other relevant departments to identify reformulation requirements, resolve product quality or performance issues, and develop new products for the Thailand and Southeast Asia markets.

Key Responsibilities

The

key responsibilities

of this position include research and development, product formulation, laboratory management, quality and technical support, documentation, and cross-functional coordination.

• Research and Development

1.1 Collect and review relevant scientific and technical literature to understand proposed research work.

1.2 Design and plan experiments using appropriate controls, test methods, and replications.

1.3 Manage assigned research and product-development projects through to completion and submit project reports on time.

1.4 Conduct exploratory research to support the continual improvement of existing products.

1.5 Develop and evaluate new products based on customer requirements, market needs, technical feasibility, and company strategy.

1.6 Coordinate laboratory, production, and field trials to evaluate product quality, stability, performance, and commercial suitability.

1.7 Analyze trial and test results, draw conclusions, and recommend appropriate formulation or process changes.

1.8 Collect and assess available technical information on competitors' products and conduct comparative testing when required.

1.9 Maintain complete and accurate records of research activities, experimental methods, results, conclusions, and recommendations.

• Product Formulation

2.1 Maintain a complete and up-to-date registry of all product formulations.

2.2 Manage and coordinate the controlled issuance of approved formulas to authorized departments and personnel.

2.3 Protect formulas, research information, and related documentation for confidentiality and intellectual-property purposes.

2.4 Develop formulations for new products and modify existing products as required.

2.5 Support Production and other relevant departments in conducting laboratory trials, pilot trials, production batches, and scale-up activities.

2.6 Review trial and production results and make appropriate formulation adjustments to support continual improvement and compliance with market standards.

2.7 Maintain proper formulation and development documentation to ensure accuracy and traceability.

2.8 Develop, review, approve, and maintain specifications for raw materials, packaging materials where applicable, intermediate products, and finished goods.

2.9 Ensure that formulation changes are properly evaluated, approved, documented, communicated, and implemented.

• Laboratory Management

3.1 Manage the day-to-day operation of the laboratory and ensure that testing and development work is completed accurately and on time.

3.2 Plan, assign, supervise, and review the work of laboratory personnel.

3.3 Train and develop laboratory employees in testing methods, equipment operation, documentation, safety, and good laboratory practices.

3.4 Establish, maintain, and improve laboratory procedures, work instructions, test methods, specifications, and record-keeping systems.

3.5 Ensure that raw materials, in-process samples, trial products, finished goods, competitor products, and other required samples are tested according to approved procedures.

3.6 Review laboratory test results and ensure that unusual, nonconforming, or out-of-specification results are properly investigated, documented, and communicated.

3.7 Coordinate with Quality, Production, Purchasing, and relevant departments regarding raw-material quality, finished-product quality, production issues, and corrective actions.

3.8 Ensure the correct use, calibration, verification, maintenance, and repair of laboratory instruments and equipment.

3.9 Maintain suitable laboratory supplies, chemicals, reference materials, standards, and consumables.

3.10 Ensure that laboratory chemicals, samples, and retained samples are properly identified, stored, handled, and disposed of.

3.11 Maintain an organized sample-retention system for raw materials, trial products, and finished goods where required.

3.12 Ensure compliance with company health, safety, environmental, quality, and laboratory requirements.

3.13 Identify laboratory equipment, staffing, training, and resource requirements and submit recommendations to management.

3.14 Monitor laboratory performance, testing turnaround times, accuracy, workload, and other relevant performance indicators.

3.15 Support internal, customer, certification, and regulatory audits relating to laboratory and product-development activities.

• Quality and Technical Support

4.1 Provide technical support for investigations involving product quality, product performance, raw materials, manufacturing processes, and customer complaints.

4.2 Support root-cause investigations and the development of corrective and preventive actions.

4.3 Evaluate alternative raw materials and suppliers in coordination with Purchasing, Quality, Production, and other relevant departments.

4.4 Assess the impact of changes in raw materials, suppliers, manufacturing processes, equipment, or product formulations.

4.5 Provide technical recommendations to Production to improve product consistency, manufacturing efficiency, and finished-product performance.

4.6 Ensure that applicable product and raw-material standards remain technically appropriate and current.

4.7 Coordinate efforts to obtain and maintain applicable quality systems and certifications.

• Technical Service and Product Management

5.1 Coordinate with the Technical Service team and Product Manager in preparing scientific bulletins, technical data sheets, product information, presentations, and other technical materials.

5.2 Provide technical information and laboratory data to support product positioning, customer trials, product launches, and market-development activities.

5.3 Work with the Product Manager to identify current reformulation requirements and new-product opportunities in Thailand and Southeast Asia.

5.4 Support customer visits, technical meetings, presentations, product demonstrations, and field trials when required.

5.5 Provide technical training and product knowledge to internal teams, distributors, and customers as appropriate.

5.6 Coordinate with the Technical Service team and Product Manager to answer queries raised through the FAQ service.

• Documentation and Reporting

6.1 Ensure that all research, formulation, testing, trial, specification, and laboratory records are accurate, complete, traceable, and securely maintained.

6.2 Prepare and submit product-development, laboratory, trial, and project reports within the required timelines.

6.3 Maintain controlled versions of formulas, specifications, test methods, and technical documents.

6.4 Provide regular updates to the Director of Research, Head of Business, or designated supervisor regarding project progress, laboratory activities, technical issues, and required decisions.

6.5 Perform other research, product-development, laboratory, quality, and technical duties reasonably assigned by management