R&D Product Category Lead

Andrews Meat; Sydney; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discounts on health insurance

Exclusive partner discounts

Free onsite parking

Parental leave

Novated leasing options

Travel discounts

Job summary

Primo Foods, part of JBS Australia, seeks an R&D Product Category Lead to own innovation and value creation for Snacking & New Innovation. Leads three R&D professionals and sits on the R&D Leadership Team, delivering NPD/EPD, private label and export initiatives.

This newly created role strengthens execution, builds capability and accelerates innovation across a strategically important category in a leading FMCG business.

Qualifications

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

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.

Skills

Team leadership

Stakeholder management

Commercial acumen

Problem solving

Education

Food Science / Food Technology degree

Job description

R&D Product Category Lead

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