R&D Product Category Lead

Primo Smallgoods; Canterbury-Bankstown; On-site; AUD 170,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discounts on health insurance

Exclusive onsite advantages

Free onsite parking

Parental leave

Novated leasing options

Worldwide travel discounts

Career growth opportunities

Brand prestige

Job summary

Primo Foods is Australia’s trusted smallgoods brand seeking an R&D Product Category Lead to own innovation and value creation for the Snacking & New Innovation category. You will lead a team of three R&D professionals and steer NPD, EPD, private label, export and foodservice initiatives.

This newly created role strengthens project execution, builds capability and accelerates delivery across a strategic growth category.

Qualifications

• Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence across functions.
• Proven experience leading, coaching or mentoring technical teams.
• Experience delivering complex product development and commercialisation projects.
• Curious, solution-focused leader who thrives in ambiguity.

Responsibilities

• Own and deliver the category innovation, renovation and value creation roadmap aligned to business strategy.
• Lead, coach and develop a team of three R&D professionals.
• Drive execution of NPD, EPD, private label, export and foodservice initiatives.
• Translate insights into commercially viable product opportunities.
• Partner with Marketing, Sales, Operations, Quality, Procurement and Supply Chain.

Skills

R&D leadership

Stakeholder management

Team coaching

Project management

Education

Degree qualified in Food Science or Food Technology

Job description

Primo Foods is Australia's most recognised and trusted smallgoods brand, proudly part of JBS Australia, the country's largest and most respected meat and food producer. From our beginnings in a small butcher shop in 1957, we've grown into the market leader in high-quality smallgoods.

At Primo, our people are the key to our success. Their passion, skill and care go into every product we make, combining traditional methods with modern techniques to deliver food that's simply made better to taste better.

Join a team that takes pride in what we do and is driven to keep raising the bar; there's good, there's great, and then there's Primo.

About the Role

As our R&D Product Category Lead, you will own the delivery of the innovation, renovation and value creation agenda for Primo's Snacking & New Innovation category. Leading a team of three R&D professionals and sitting on the R&D Leadership Team, you will bring strategy to life through the successful delivery of NPD, EPD, private label, export and foodservice initiatives.

This newly created role has been established to strengthen project execution, build team capability and accelerate innovation delivery across one of Primo's most strategically important growth categories.

Key Responsibilities

Own and deliver the category innovation, renovation and value creation roadmap aligned to business strategy and customer priorities

Lead, coach and develop a team of three R&D professionals, creating a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement

Drive the successful execution of complex NPD, EPD, private label, export, QSR/foodservice and technology platform projects

Manage the category project portfolio, ensuring effective prioritisation, resource allocation and delivery against timelines

Translate consumer, customer, market and technical insights into commercially viable product opportunities

Partner with Marketing, Sales, Operations, Quality, Procurement and Supply Chain to align priorities and deliver business outcomes

Provide hands‑on technical leadership across formulation, trials, scale‑up and commercialisation activities

Drive cost optimisation, ingredient innovation and process improvement initiatives that create measurable value

Ensure robust food safety, quality, regulatory and stage‑gate governance throughout the product development lifecycle

Identify opportunities to improve R&D processes, capability, efficiency and ways of working across the function

Represent category priorities, risks and opportunities within leadership and cross-functional forums

About You

Degree qualified in Food Science, Food Technology or a related food discipline

Minimum 8 years' experience within R&D, product development &food manufacturing

Proven experience leading, coaching or mentoring technical teams and developing capability in others

Demonstrated success driving & delivering complex product development and commercialisation projects from concept through to launch

Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence and build alignment across multiple functions

A curious, solution-focused and commercially minded leader who thrives in ambiguity and enjoys challenging the status quo

Exposure to meat processing, meal solutions, snacking or related FMCG categories will be highly regarded.

Why Join Primo?

At Primo, we're committed to creating a workplace where people feel supported, valued and connected. You'll also enjoy:

• Discounts on health insurance and a range of leading retail partners
• Exclusive savings at our onsite butcher and deli shop
• Free onsite parking for an easy commute
• Paid parental leave
• Access to novated leasing options to help you save on the cost of owning and running a vehicle
• Discounts on car rentals worldwide for personal travel
• Discounted travel benefits through our global employee partner network
• Long term career growth and development opportunities within a leading FMCG business
• The opportunity to work with one of Australia's most recognised food brands
• A collaborative culture focused on continuous improvement, innovation and excellence
• The chance to help shape the future of product innovation within a business that is committed to driving meaningful change

If you're ready to take the next step in your R&D leadership career and want to make a genuine impact on the future of innovation at Primo, we'd love to hear from you.