Interim R&D Manager

Randstad; Oñate; On-site; EUR 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Randstad is seeking an Interim R&D Manager for a leading food manufacturing company based in Oñati, Spain. This is a delivery-focused, hands-on leadership role to keep project momentum, coordinate the team, and drive pipeline execution during a temporary transition.

You'll lead an R&D team of technicians (~5–7 people), collaborate across Sales, Operations, Quality, and Sourcing, and ensure launches are ready from industrial, quality, cost, and timeline perspectives.

Qualifications

• Strong project management and team leadership skills in complex, fast-paced environments.
• Proven track record in stakeholder management, cross-functional coordination, and pragmatic problem-solving.
• Fluent in English.

Responsibilities

• Maintain project pipeline continuity for R&D and NPD, managing risks and bottlenecks.
• Lead and empower a team of R&D technicians (~5–7 people) with clear focus.
• Coordinate across Sales, Operations, Quality, Category Management, and Sourcing.
• Lead project follow-ups, NPD reviews, status reporting, and governance.
• Support launch readiness across industrial, quality, cost, and timeline.

Skills

Project management

Team leadership

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional coordination

English fluency

Operational delivery

Job description

Are you a project leader or interim manager available for a high-impact, short-term assignment? We are currently recruiting an Interim R&D Manager for a leading food manufacturing company based in Oñati, Spain.

This is a delivery-focused, hands-on leadership role aimed at ensuring project momentum, team coordination, and pipeline execution during a temporary transition period.

Required Skills

Key Mission & Responsibilities

• Project Pipeline Continuity: Keep ongoing R&D and NPD projects progressing according to plan, managing risks, and removing bottlenecks.
• Team Leadership: Lead and empower a dedicated team of R&D technicians (~5–7 people), ensuring clear focus and execution discipline.
• Cross-Functional Interface: Coordinate smoothly across Sales, Operations, Quality, Category Management, and Sourcing to maintain cross-departmental alignment.
• Portfolio Prioritization & Governance: Lead project follow-ups, NPD reviews, status reporting, and facilitate decision-making.
• Launch Readiness: Support ongoing product launches across industrial, quality, cost, and timeline readiness.

Required Experience

Profile Requirements

• Strong project management and team leadership skills in complex, fast-paced environments.
• Proven track record in stakeholder management, cross-functional coordination, and pragmatic problem-solving.
• Fluent in English.
• Ability to quickly step into a new environment and drive operational delivery.

Working Model & Conditions

• Location: Oñati, Gipuzkoa (Spain).
• Duration: ~3 to 6 months (maternity/leave cover).
• Flexibility: Open to experienced interim profiles with flexible time commitment / working models as long as delivery and impact are achieved efficiently.

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