Background

Tanganyika Instant Coffee Co. Ltd (TANICA), an experienced producer of instant coffee in Tanzania since 1963, invites Tanzanian applicants with suitable qualifications and experience to fill the following vacancy:

Purpose of the Post

The R&D Officer will drive innovation, product improvement, and research initiatives aligned with TANICA’s strategic goals. The role ensures continuous enhancement of coffee products, value addition, and technological improvements in processing, packaging, and market competitiveness.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Conduct research on new coffee product development, including blends, instant coffee formulations, and value-added products.
• Study local and global coffee industry trends to recommend innovations and technology adoption.
• Collaborate with production teams on piloting new formulations and prototypes.
• Assess processing technologies and recommend solutions to improve efficiency and quality.
• Conduct feasibility studies on new machinery, packaging technologies, and automation.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives at the factory.
• Develop research tools and methodologies.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret data to support product development and strategic decisions.
• Prepare R&D reports, technical briefs, and concept notes.
• Maintain updated documentation of research results, pilots, and trials.
• Collaborate with coffee researchers, universities, TCB, TACRI, NGOs, and private sector actors on research partnerships.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Industrial Economics and Planning, or a related field.
• Master’s degree is an added advantage.

Experience and Skills

• At least 3 years of experience in industrial economic analysis, economic planning, agribusiness research, or value chain development, preferably within agriculture or manufacturing.
• Experience in feasibility studies, cost–benefit analysis, investment appraisals, and market studies.
• Strong understanding of agricultural estate development, out-grower schemes, and commercialization models in the coffee sector or similar value chains.
• Ability to analyze production systems, evaluate economic viability of technologies, and recommend improvements to enhance productivity and competitiveness.
• Proven ability to develop research methodologies, design tools, and conduct qualitative and quantitative research.
• Strong analytical and data interpretation skills, with proficiency in SPSS, Stata, Excel, Power BI.
• Excellent communication, report writing, and presentation skills.
• Capacity to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, external research partners, and industry stakeholders.

• Conduct research on new coffee product development, including blends, instant coffee formulations, and value-added products.
• Study local and global coffee industry trends to recommend innovations and technology adoption.
• Collaborate with production teams on piloting new formulations and prototypes.
• Assess processing technologies and recommend solutions to improve efficiency and quality.
• Conduct feasibility studies on new machinery, packaging technologies, and automation.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives at the factory.
• Develop research tools and methodologies.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret data to support product development and strategic decisions.
• Prepare R&D reports, technical briefs, and concept notes.
• Maintain updated documentation of research results, pilots, and trials.
• Collaborate with coffee researchers, universities, TCB, TACRI, NGOs, and private sector actors on research partnerships.

• Experience in feasibility studies, cost–benefit analysis, investment appraisals, and market studies.
• Strong understanding of agricultural estate development, out-grower schemes, and commercialization models in the coffee sector or similar value chains.
• Ability to analyze production systems, evaluate economic viability of technologies, and recommend improvements to enhance productivity and competitiveness.
• Proven ability to develop research methodologies, design tools, and conduct qualitative and quantitative research.
• Strong analytical and data interpretation skills, with proficiency in SPSS, Stata, Excel, Power BI.
• Excellent communication, report writing, and presentation skills.
• Capacity to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, external research partners, and industry stakeholders.

• Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Industrial Economics and Planning, or a related field.
• Master’s degree is an added advantage.