Gerente de Innovación & Desarrollo

About the role

Alimentos Ideal is looking for a seasoned Innovation & Development Manager to lead a complex portfolio of new product initiatives, reformulations, packaging, and process improvements. The role bridges consumer insights, technical development, and business profitability to deliver market‑driven solutions.

Key responsibilities

• Prioritize and manage a multi‑project innovation pipeline based on strategic impact, feasibility and expected return.
• Translate consumer insights, market trends and commercial needs into concrete product and portfolio opportunities.
• Lead product development, reformulation, line extensions and process optimisation projects.
• Drive Design‑to‑Value initiatives to enhance value proposition, formulations, materials and costs without compromising consumer experience.
• Establish governance, stage‑gate and prioritisation methodologies to ensure speed, discipline and quality.
• Assess technical, financial, regulatory and operational feasibility before project advancement.
• Oversee pilot, industrial trials and scale‑up, ensuring smooth transition to production.
• Identify emerging technologies, ingredients, materials and processes to strengthen competitiveness.
• Collaborate cross‑functionally with Marketing, Sales, Operations, Supply Chain, Procurement, Quality, Finance and technical teams.
• Build and lead a high‑performance technical team focused on innovation, critical thinking and business orientation.

Required profile

• Degree in Food Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Industrial Engineering or related field.
• Preferred Master’s in Innovation, Product Development, Marketing or Business Administration.
• Minimum 8 years of experience in innovation, R&D, product or process development within the food industry.

Required skills