R&D Manager

R&D Manager – Food Technology About the Role We are looking for an experienced and commercially minded R&D Manager to lead our Food Technology Research & Development function. The role will be responsible for driving product innovation, application development, ingredient research, formulation, and technical solutions across our portfolio of plant-based ingredients, including protein isolates, peptides, pea fibers, and pea starches. The R&D Manager will work closely with Commercial, Manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory, and Marketing teams to translate market and customer needs into innovative, scalable, and commercially viable food solutions. Job Description R&D Strategy & Innovation • Develop and execute the R&D strategy in alignment with the company's business objectives and innovation roadmap. • Lead research and application development for protein isolates, peptides, pea fibers, pea starches, and other food ingredients. • Identify emerging food technology, ingredient, processing, and consumer trends to drive new product and application opportunities. • Establish and manage the R&D project pipeline, prioritising projects based on commercial potential, technical feasibility, and business needs. Product & Application Development • Lead the development of new food products, formulations, recipes, and ingredient applications from concept through prototyping and commercialisation. • Oversee formulation development, benchtop trials, pilot-scale testing, and product optimisation. • Evaluate ingredient functionality, processing performance, sensory attributes, stability, and overall product quality. • Develop innovative applications that demonstrate the functionality and unique value propositions of the company's ingredients. Technical Leadership & Problem-Solving • Provide technical leadership in resolving complex formulation, processing, and application challenges. • Support customer technical projects and, where required, participate in customer trials and on-site application testing. • Develop practical technical solutions and recommendations based on R&D findings and data. • Act as a key technical resource for Commercial and other internal stakeholders. Commercialisation & Cross-Functional Collaboration • Partner closely with Commercial teams to understand customer requirements and translate market opportunities into R&D projects. • Work with Manufacturing, Quality, and Regulatory teams to ensure successful scale-up and commercialisation of new products. • Assess technical feasibility, production requirements, ingredient availability, and cost considerations during product development. • Support technical presentations, customer meetings, seminars, exhibitions, and innovation workshops. Team Leadership & Development • Lead, mentor, and develop the R&D team, providing clear direction, technical guidance, and performance objectives. • Establish effective R&D processes, methodologies, and best practices. • Allocate resources and manage project timelines to ensure R&D projects are delivered effectively. • Foster a culture of innovation, experimentation, collaboration, and continuous improvement. R&D Data & Documentation • Establish standards for experimental design, data collection, analysis, and technical reporting. • Ensure R&D activities, formulations, test results, prototypes, and technical findings are properly documented and maintained. • Review and interpret R&D data to support technical and commercial decision-making. • Maintain appropriate records of ingredients, samples, prototypes, and development projects. Prototype & Innovation Demonstrations • Oversee the preparation of prototypes and product demonstrations for customers, seminars, exhibitions, and innovation workshops. • Lead technical reviews and presentations to demonstrate product functionality, applications, and value propositions. Technical & Marketing Support • Provide technical and application expertise to support marketing and product communication initiatives. • Review technical content and ensure product claims and application information are accurate and appropriately communicated. • Support the development of technical materials, presentations, product literature, and social media content where required. Others • Support strategic projects and other R&D initiatives as required. • Identify opportunities to improve R&D capabilities, processes, equipment, and laboratory practices. Qualifications • Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Food Engineering, Chemistry, or a related discipline . • 5+ years of relevant experience in food R&D, product development, application development, or food technology, with demonstrated experience leading R&D projects or teams. • Strong knowledge of food processing, formulation, ingredient functionality, and product development . • Experience with plant-based proteins and/or alternative protein applications would be highly advantageous.