La Prima — a growing FMCG food manufacturing company in the UAE — is seeking an experienced and creatively driven R&D Executive to join its expanding Research & Development team. This is a specialist food product development role focused on fillings and chocolate products — covering new product development (NPD), recipe formulation, ingredient evaluation, product trials, and technical documentation within La Prima’s dynamic food innovation function. The position reports directly to the Head of R&D / Business Manager and offers an exciting opportunity to drive real product innovation in the UAE’s fast-moving FMCG food manufacturing sector.
R&D Specialization — FMCG Fillings & Chocolate Products Innovation
Chocolate R&DFillings DevelopmentNPDRecipe FormulationIngredient EvaluationProduct TrialsFMCG InnovationFood Technology
About the Role — R&D Executive, La Prima UAE
Company: La Prima — FMCG food manufacturing company in the UAE with growing product innovation capabilities
Department: Research & Development (R&D)
Product Focus: Fillings products · Chocolate products — new product development and existing product improvement
Reporting Structure: Reports to Head of R&D / Business Manager
Industry: FMCG / Food Manufacturing / Food Technology / Confectionery
Why This R&D Executive Role at La Prima UAE Stands Out
Specialist Product Focus: Fillings and chocolate product development is one of the most technically complex and commercially rewarding specializations in the FMCG food industry — a genuinely exciting R&D niche in the UAE market
Growing Company: Join La Prima at a period of active team expansion — offering the opportunity to genuinely shape the R&D function and contribute meaningfully to the company’s product innovation roadmap
Direct Reporting: Report directly to the Head of R&D / Business Manager — ensuring close mentorship, high visibility, and rapid career development within La Prima’s growing food business
Career Growth: R&D Executives in UAE FMCG food companies advance toward Senior R&D Executive, R&D Manager, Innovation Manager, and Head of R&D roles — high-value career paths in the region’s dynamic food manufacturing sector
Position Overview
The R&D Executive (Fillings & Chocolate Products) at La Prima UAE is a technically focused and innovation-driven food product development role at the heart of the company’s Research & Development function. Working closely with the Head of R&D and Business Manager, you will develop and optimize recipes for fillings and chocolate products, evaluate ingredients and raw materials, design and conduct product trials in the La Prima production facility, analyze sensory and technical results, prepare development documentation, ensure new products meet quality, regulatory, and commercial requirements, and collaborate with production, quality, and commercial teams to bring new FMCG food innovations successfully to market in the UAE and beyond.
Why This Role Matters: As R&D Executive at La Prima UAE, your formulations and product trials directly determine whether the next great filling or chocolate product makes it from concept to consumer shelf. Every recipe you develop, every ingredient you evaluate, every sensory trial you run, and every technical specification you document is a step toward bringing a new La Prima food product to life — products that will be tasted, enjoyed, and remembered by consumers across the UAE and the wider region. This is food product innovation at its most direct, rewarding, and impactful.
Key Responsibilities
New Product Development — Fillings & Chocolate Products
- Lead and execute new product development (NPD) projects for fillings and chocolate products — taking briefs from concept through formulation, trial, evaluation, and technical sign-off to production-ready launch specifications
- Develop creative, technically sound, and commercially viable recipe formulations for a range of filling types and chocolate product formats — applying food technology expertise, sensory understanding, and ingredient knowledge to produce products that meet taste, texture, stability, and cost targets
- Conduct structured product trials and laboratory experiments at pilot and production scale — designing trials systematically, collecting and analyzing results objectively, and iterating formulations based on findings to achieve target product specifications
Ingredient Evaluation & Raw Material Assessment
- Evaluate new ingredients, raw materials, and supplier samples for technical suitability in fillings and chocolate product applications — assessing functionality, taste, stability, labeling compliance, and cost-efficiency against product requirements
- Build and maintain a current knowledge of ingredients, flavors, emulsifiers, stabilizers, and other functional components used in confectionery fillings and chocolate manufacturing — staying informed about market trends, new ingredient innovations, and consumer preference shifts
- Coordinate with approved suppliers and identify alternative ingredient sources — supporting cost optimization, ingredient risk management, and supply chain resilience for La Prima’s R&D and production teams
Product Improvement & Existing Range Optimization
- Identify and implement opportunities to improve the quality, stability, cost, or sensory appeal of La Prima’s existing fillings and chocolate product range — conducting structured reformulation projects and evaluating results against defined improvement criteria
- Investigate and resolve product quality issues, stability concerns, or production challenges related to fillings and chocolate products — providing practical, evidence-based technical solutions that minimize production disruption and protect product quality
- Support the scale-up of successfully developed products from laboratory or pilot scale to full commercial production — working closely with Production and Quality teams to ensure specifications are correctly implemented and maintained in manufacturing
Technical Documentation & Regulatory Compliance
- Prepare and maintain comprehensive technical documentation for all R&D projects — including recipe specifications, formulation records, trial reports, ingredient declarations, allergen information, and shelf-life data — ensuring full accuracy and traceability
- Ensure all new and reformulated products comply with UAE food safety regulations, labeling requirements, and applicable food standards — coordinating with the Quality and Regulatory team to confirm compliance before any product proceeds to launch
- Maintain organized and up-to-date R&D project records and documentation — supporting internal review processes, quality audits, and regulatory submission requirements
Cross-Functional Collaboration & Project Coordination
- Work closely with Production, Quality Control, Procurement, and Commercial teams — ensuring R&D projects are executed efficiently, ingredients are sourced on time, and new products are launched successfully with full internal alignment
- Present product development progress, trial results, and formulation recommendations to the Head of R&D and Business Manager — communicating clearly, concisely, and professionally in both formal reviews and day-to-day working interactions
- Manage multiple R&D projects simultaneously — organizing priorities effectively, tracking project milestones, and delivering results within agreed development timelines without compromising technical quality or regulatory compliance
Qualifications & Requirements
Educational Requirements
- Bachelor’s Degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Food Engineering, Chemistry, Nutrition, or a closely related scientific discipline — with strong academic grounding in food product formulation, food chemistry, or confectionery science
Experience Requirements
- Relevant experience in food product development or R&D within an FMCG food manufacturing company — with demonstrable involvement in NPD projects, recipe formulation, product trials, and technical documentation for food products
- Experience in fillings, confectionery, chocolate, or related product categories is a strong advantage — bringing specialist technical knowledge that can be applied immediately to La Prima’s product development priorities
- Practical laboratory and production trial experience — comfortable working in a food manufacturing facility environment and conducting hands-on product development activities alongside production teams
Key Skills for Success
- Strong technical food science foundation — applied knowledge of ingredient functionality, food chemistry, formulation principles, and sensory evaluation as they relate to fillings and chocolate product development
- Creative, innovation-oriented mindset — genuinely passionate about developing new food products and finding better formulation solutions that deliver outstanding taste, texture, and consumer appeal
- Detail-oriented and organized — able to maintain accurate technical records, manage multiple development projects simultaneously, and ensure all documentation meets compliance and audit requirements
- Collaborative and communicative — able to work effectively across R&D, Production, Quality, and Commercial functions to bring new products from concept to commercial launch successfully
How to Apply — R&D Executive La Prima UAE
Send your updated CV to: careers@lmi.ae
Email Subject: “Application for R&D Executive – FMCG Fillings & Chocolate Products”
FMCG Food Manufacturing UAE | R&D Fillings & Chocolate | careers@lmi.ae
About La Prima — FMCG Food Manufacturing UAE
La Prima is a dynamic and growing FMCG food manufacturing company based in the UAE — committed to developing and producing high-quality food products that delight consumers across the region. With an expanding product portfolio spanning fillings, chocolate products, and confectionery innovations, La Prima’s Research & Development team plays a central role in driving the company’s growth and market competitiveness. The company’s investment in growing its R&D function reflects a clear strategic commitment to food product innovation as the engine of long-term business success in the UAE’s active and competitive FMCG food market.
Career Outlook: R&D Executives at La Prima UAE have a well-supported career progression path toward Senior R&D Executive, R&D Manager, Innovation Manager, and Head of Research & Development roles — all highly valued, well-compensated positions in the UAE’s growing FMCG food manufacturing and confectionery industry.
Who Should Apply?
- Food R&D Executives / Technologists: With FMCG food product development experience — particularly in fillings, confectionery, chocolate, or related sweet product categories — seeking a specialist R&D role at a growing UAE food manufacturer
- Food Science Graduates: With hands-on NPD, recipe formulation, and product trial experience in a food manufacturing company — ready to take ownership of exciting fillings and chocolate R&D projects at La Prima UAE
- Confectionery & Chocolate Specialists: With direct experience in chocolate product development, chocolate tempering, filling formulation, or confectionery innovation — bringing highly relevant specialist skills to La Prima’s R&D function
- FMCG Product Development Professionals: With cross-functional new product launch experience covering formulation, ingredient sourcing, regulatory compliance, and scale-up in the UAE or GCC food manufacturing market
- Food Technologists Seeking Innovation Roles: With a passion for creative food product development and the technical skills to translate innovative ideas into production-ready, commercially successful FMCG food products
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