Position: Program Lead – Rice Fortification

Organization: CHRI

Location: Delhi

Role & responsibilities:
• Expand Fortified rice blending and FRK production to various geographies. Install and commission blending system and FRK Extrusion System.
• Support costing, stability, safety, micronutrient content and sensorial testing of FRK at various project sites.
• Enable rice millers in various geographies to produce fortified rice brands by developing appropriate blending and quality processes and protocols
• Validate blending, production and quality processes and protocols and help develop customized SOPs and training materials
• Support development of training toolkit for operationalization of Government policy on rice fortification through PDS, ICDS and MDM.
• Lead the design and implementation of rice fortification through the Public Distribution System (PDS), including marketing strategies to enhance uptake among PDS consumers.
• Cultivate opportunities for expanding into additional public sector programs, the food aid market, and commercial retail channels.
• Develop case studies of the various distribution pilots in order to disseminate best practices, as well as further engage entities the supply and distribution chain, enlist the support of policymakers, and cultivate new buyers.
• Assess and identify appropriate blending and validation equipment for small and medium sized rice mills and warehouses
• Manage the development, manufacturing, installation, and validation of blending equipment within specific pilot sites
• Drive forward efforts to further optimize the formulation, equipment or manufacturing process parameters with R&D partners

Required qualification and Skills:
• A Master’s degree in food engineering/ Agriculture/ Food Technology with five or more years of relevant experience or a bachelor’s degree in food engineering with a minimum of seven years of relevant experience and master’s in management.
• Demonstrated experience in working within manufacturing environments in India and developing comprehensive SOPs
• Demonstrated experience in implementing Food Safety and Quality Control Systems (HACCP & GMPs)
• Demonstrated experience in developing and testing validation protocols within manufacturing or other processing environments
• Demonstrated experience working with food-based products and/or agricultural commodities
• Experience in the rice industry and familiarity with rice milling environments highly desirable
• Experience in food extrusion/ agro food processing/ snacks manufacturing/ bakery manufacturing highly desirable
• Knowledge of different aspects of food and nutrition in processed foods and their application in the food industry highly desirable
• Ability to understand market and consumer perspective on staple food products and eating habits desirable
• Experience in managing complex technical projects, ideally including the management of technical partners
• Demonstrated negotiations experience within the private sector, including but not limited to negotiations around pricing, supply availability, and intellectual property.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Experience in using project management software desirable
• Experience working with officials in the Government of India desirable. Demonstrated experience in working with public sector program and participating in government tenders.
• Ability to travel up to 30% of the time annually (mostly domestic travel within India, but on occasion to Myanmar and other South and Southeast Asian and African countries)