Ice Cream R&D Specialist

Job Title: Ice Cream R&D Specialist

Work Location: Bangalore/Mumbai

ABOUT ICE CREAM: Life Tastes Better with Ice Cream

Unilever Ice Cream is the largest global Ice Cream Company in the world, with over 100 years of experience delivering a diverse range of indulgent, yet responsible, craft food experiences and treats delighting consumers. Committed to innovation, quality, and sustainability we have 35 brands, including 3 one billion Euro brands (Magnum, Wall’s, Ben & Jerry’s), a strong presence in over 60 countries, generating annual revenue of €8 billion. All brands are driven to transform moments into memories through indulgent yet responsibly made and marketed products. We have a well-developed strategy to deliver growth and value creation which is clear on where to play and how to win.

We turn the ordinary into the extraordinary by designing unique and innovative Ice Cream experiences that make life taste better, creating joyful experiences. In our Ice Cream business, we’re crafting the future through innovation and imaginative minds, creating unique products. We spark moments of happiness for people and within the communities where we operate. However, it is not as simple as it may seem. As Ice Cream makers we are serious about happiness. With warm hearts, we create the coolest products. 

Purpose of the Role:
Deliver qualitative, quantitative and sensory consumer research support to Product and Packaging Development by interacting in a multi-disciplinary business environment, providing an understanding between the R&D team and the consumer, ensuring the delivery of outstanding innovations to support the Category Innovation Portfolio & Superiority plans.

Position Overview:

The Ice Cream R&D Specialist will play a crucial role in understanding consumer preferences and translating them into actionable insights for product & pack development and improvement. This role requires a blend of technical expertise, market research skills, and a passion for ice cream. The ideal candidate will be able to bridge the gap between consumer desires and technical feasibility, ensuring our products & packs meet and exceed customer expectations. Candidate should have a basic understanding on Health & Nutrition to support our product development team. The ideal candidate will assist in the creation and improvement of health and nutrition products.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct market research to gather consumer insights and preferences related to ice cream products & pack.

• Analyze consumer data to identify trends, preferences, and areas for improvement.

• Support product & packaging development team to translate consumer insights into product specifications and innovations.

• Develop and maintain a database of consumer feedback and technical insights.

• Monitor industry trends and competitor portfolio to stay ahead of market developments.

• Prepare reports of consumer studies & competition benchmarking and cascade to the team on regular basis.

• Work closely with TPLs and CTI lead to ensure consumer insights are integrated into product/pack strategies and campaigns.

• Conduct/Support sensory evaluation to assess product & pack quality and consumer acceptance.

• Demonstrate a creative mindset with the ability to translate complex product information into simple consumer stories.

• Capture all relevant data, apply appropriate analysis techniques, interpret results, or lead agencies in report/analysis preparation.

• Assist in the development and testing of health and nutrition products.

• Conduct basic research on ingredients and nutritional content.

• Support the preparation of product samples and prototypes.

• Maintain accurate records of product development activities.

• Collaborate with the product development team to ensure project goals are met.

• Develop scientific insights on nutrition related to business challenges

• Provide R&D inputs for claim forums

Additional Requirements:

• Product development: Work in the laboratory to carry out “on the bench” experiments and in pilot plant to develop novel ice cream products as per brief within the cost and regulatory framework.

• Ingredient Sourcing: Research and identify high-quality, unique ingredients, develop & leverage vendor capabilities and drive value improvement programs that align with the company’s brand and product standards.

• Shelf-life stability: conduct studies to establish shelf-life, melt properties and other characteristics of new products, intervene through formulation/process to enhance quality of products.

• Product characterization: Use appropriate measurement techniques (either existing or develop new techniques) to analyze or characterize key attributes of the ingredients, intermediate products and finished goods.

What You’ll Need to Succeed:

• Experience in product development and/or consumer research, or a science or social science degree with food technology background, or sensory and/or technical product evaluation.

• Project management experience and analytical capability are preferable.

• Technical Skills: Strong knowledge of food chemistry, ingredient functionality, and production processes. Experience with dairy and non-dairy alternatives is a plus.

• Creative Mindset: Ability to think creatively and develop unique, on-trend products that stand out in the marketplace.

• Attention to Detail: Strong organizational skills and attention to detail in testing, interpretation of data, documentation, and execution of projects.

• Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across teams.

• Team Player: Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively as part of a team.

• Awareness of Consumer Trends: Keen awareness of current and emerging trends in the food and ice cream industry.

• Eagerness to Learn: A proactive approach to learning and adapting to new methods, technologies, and trends in the industry.

• Hardworking: A strong work ethic and dedication to delivering high-quality results.

• Passion for Ice Cream: A genuine love for ice cream and frozen desserts, and a drive to create the best possible products.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion 

Unilever embraces diversity and encourages applicants from all walks of life! This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants and continuing development of all employees regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity.