Product Research Development Associate

Product Research and Development Associate

Work Setup: Full-Time, Onsite

Location: Trece Martires City, Cavite

About Us

At SH Group, we are committed to building brands that improve everyday lives through innovative, high-quality, and market-driven products. We believe that great products are built through curiosity, research, collaboration, and relentless execution.

As we continue to grow our product portfolio, we are looking for a Product Research & Development Associate who can help turn product ideas into practical and commercially viable opportunities through thorough research, strategic analysis, and data-driven recommendations.

Job Summary

The Product Research & Development Associate is responsible for supporting the Product Development Team through product, ingredient, market, and cost research. The role focuses on identifying potential ingredients and raw materials for SH Brands products, researching their functions and benefits, evaluating alternatives, and providing cost comparisons and practical recommendations for product development.

This role is primarily focused on research and commercial product development and does not require the Associate to create final product formulations. Instead, the Associate provides the Product Development Team with reliable research, ingredient options, cost analysis, competitor insights, and recommendations that serve as a basis for further product development.

The role requires a strong balance of research skills, resourcefulness, numerical ability, attention to detail, and commercial thinking to help develop products that deliver customer value while meeting the company's target Product Cost.

Key Responsibilities

Product & Ingredient Research

• Conduct research on potential ingredients and raw materials based on assigned product concepts, including their functions, benefits, applications, and supporting references.
• Identify multiple ingredient options and practical alternatives based on product requirements, availability, functionality, and cost.
• Organize research findings and provide clear recommendations to the Product Development Team based on product relevance and commercial feasibility.

Cost-Conscious Product Research

• Research and compare estimated raw material costs while working within the assigned target Product Cost, including a maximum target of ₱35 or the assigned PC per project.
• Identify lower-cost alternatives that may provide similar or relevant functions without compromising the intended product concept.
• Evaluate ingredient options based on their function, cost, and contribution to the overall product value and profitability.

Product Size & Cost Optimization

• Perform basic cost-per-mL, cost-per-gram, or cost-per-piece computations to evaluate different product size options.
• Prepare cost scenarios and compare how product size, ingredient selection, and raw material costs affect the overall Product Cost.
• Recommend practical options for maximizing product size and customer value while remaining within the assigned target PC.

Preliminary Product Costing

• Prepare preliminary raw material and ingredient costing and calculate estimated ingredient costs per product or unit.
• Perform basic computations involving percentages, ratios, quantities, volume, and cost comparisons.
• Maintain accurate and organized costing sheets and support the Product Development Team with preliminary cost analysis.

Competitor & Market Research

• Research and analyze similar or competing products, including product size, ingredients, selling price, positioning, and key product features.
• Identify opportunities for SH Brands to provide better customer value through product size, pricing, ingredient selection, or overall product offering.
• Provide relevant market and competitor insights that can support product development and commercial decision-making.

Product Research Documentation

• Prepare organized Product Research Briefs containing the product concept, target PC, target product size, potential ingredients, estimated costs, alternatives, competitor benchmarks, and supporting references.
• Present research findings and cost comparisons clearly, highlighting the most practical options for further product development.
• Maintain accurate and updated research records, costing sheets, references, and recommendations for easy review and future use.

Product Development Support

• Collaborate with the Product Development Team and other relevant stakeholders throughout the product research and development process.
• Provide research-based recommendations that help the team evaluate product concepts, ingredients, alternatives, cost, and customer value.
• Support continuous product improvement by researching new ingredients, market opportunities, cost-saving options, and commercially viable product directions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in a science, health, food, research, business, or related field is preferred but not strictly required.
• At least one (1) year of relevant experience in Product Research & Development, Research & Development (R&D), Product Development Support, Market Research, Product Research, or a related field.
• Strong research, information-gathering, and analytical skills with the ability to identify and compare reliable information.
• Comfortable working with basic mathematics, percentages, ratios, quantities, and costing.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and/or Google Sheets.
• Able to understand technical information and translate research findings into simple, practical, and actionable recommendations.
• Resourceful in finding ingredient options, alternatives, suppliers, references, and cost-saving opportunities.
• Detail-oriented and organized, particularly in research documentation and data management.
• Able to evaluate multiple options and make recommendations based on available information.
• Demonstrates strong commercial and business sense, understanding the importance of balancing customer value and company profitability.
• Previous product formulation experience is not required.
• Willing to work onsite in Trece Martires City, Cavite.

How to Apply

Apply now by submitting your updated resume through this job posting or email us at [Confidential Information] with the subject: Product Research & Development Associate Candidate