Senior R&D Manager

The R&D Senior Manager leads, develops and commercialises a multidisciplinary consultancy for the food and drink sector. The role provides strategic, technical and commercial leadership across multiple specialist teams, including Product R&D, Consumer Insights and Sensory Analysis, delivering integrated consultancy, research and training services to start‑ups, scale‑ups and established food manufacturing businesses.

The post holder will drive sustainable growth in revenue, margin and market reputation by building strong client relationships and positioning the organisation as a trusted partner for product development, reformulation, quality improvement and consumer‑led innovation.

The role covers the full innovation lifecycle—from consumer insight and concept development through product design, scale‑up and manufacture—alongside ingredient research, troubleshooting, root cause analysis and the resolution of sensory, quality and performance issues. It also includes reformulation to support health trends, regulatory compliance, ingredient availability, design to value, cost optimisation and shelf‑life extension, as well as providing deep technical expertise on ingredient functionality and raw material specification changes.

• Strategic Leadership across multiple specialist teams
• Technical Leadership Across the Full Product Innovation Lifecycle
• Commercial Leadership & Business Growth
• Project and Programme Management
• People Leadership & Capability Development 
• Client Relationship Management and External Engagement 
• Operational & Financial Management 

• Degree qualified in a Food Science or Technology, with experience in food manufacturing to give the appropriate level of credibility to operate in this broad and strategic role. A higher degree may be an advantage if in an appropriate area.
• Effective and extensive technical project and programme management skills from recent experience.
• Significant credibility in product innovation accrued through extensive industrial experience in Product Innovation, Product Renovation and Cost optimisation (reformulation) across the Supply chain from ideation to manufacturing and beyond in distribution (vis a vis shelf life).
• Understanding of sensory science (experimental design) tools during NPD process an advantage along with consumer validation methodologies including opportunity and penalty analysis.
• Experience in scale up from concept to manufacturing production.
• A thorough understanding of a products P&L, including Cost of Goods (COGs), manufacturing conversion costs and basic principles of mass flow through a manufacturing process.
• Good verbal and communication skills to form good business relationships and to develop new business.
• Effective time management skills relating to effective delivery and business practices
• Skilled at developing new ideas and bringing them to fruition in a friendly but challenging multidisciplinary environment.
• Full UK/EU driving licence and be eligible to work and travel freely within the EU.