Vickerstock are delighted to be recruitment partners with our client who are specialise in supplying free from products to millions of customers around the globe on the appointment of Senior R&D Manager for their newly developed food manufacturing facility based in Newry.

As the successful Senior R&D Manager you will lead the team to deliver innovation and renovation of the full brand. You will also provide leadership to the technical team ensuring all products manufactured by the company meet safety, quality, and legal requirements.

What your typical day will look like?

• Co-ordinate and deliver site development activity - product submissions, panels, new launch reviews.
• Head up and facilitate the NPD meetings and feasibilities / handovers for relevant categories.
• Ensure effective communication between development, technical, process, commercial, purchasing and operations departments.
• Fully understand all aspects of the customer in terms of NPD strategies, procedures, and structures
• As part of a passionate and innovative team, you will play a key role in delivering an ambitious NPD pipeline.
• Establish close and collaborative relationships with key stakeholders.
• Lead renovation workstreams to improve quality/organoleptic/commercials.
• Manage samples for shelf-life testing and micro and nutritional analysis for all products.
• Ensuring compliance with legislation, BRC, Bord Bia, Red Tractor and retailer/customer standards.
• Ensure external non-conformance and complete complaint investigations to ensure a rigorous approach to the root cause and that corrective and preventative action are put in place in a timely manner.

What you will need to succeed:

• Educated to degree level with a food or related discipline or minimum 5 years relevant experience.
• Understand the NPD gate process, manufacturing processes and technical implications.
• Demonstrate career experience with innovation in food and a passion for food
• Able to build and maintain internal departmental relationships, whilst challenging data and searching for cross departmental opportunities.
• Experience of managing and influencing multiple stakeholders including external suppliers
• Strong project management skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office including Excel
• Strong numeracy and experience in costing concept products

Desirable Criteria (it would be great if you have these but don't worry if you don't):

• Proven experience in the development of gluten free bakery products.
• Experience of material management systems.

What we hope you do next:

Sound like the career move you've been after and would like to hear more, pick up the phone to Anna now on T 028 9031 3720, or send an updated CV - in Word format - via the link on the page (or email).

If this opportunity doesn't quite get the taste buds flowing but like me you are passionate about food, let's get a chat and see how I can help grow your career.

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