Lead Informatics Product Manager

Veeva Systems; Folkestone; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A global ingredient solutions leader in the UK is seeking an R&D Lead (Product Formulation) to spearhead the R&D department, focusing on nutritional premixes and sports nutrition products. You will oversee the entire product value chain and manage a team dedicated to formulation excellence. Ideal candidates will have a degree in a relevant field and experience in R&D leadership. This role offers a competitive salary, hybrid work options, and additional benefits including subsidised gym membership.

Benefits

Competitive Salary

Pension

Hybrid Working

Subsidised Gym membership

Qualifications

• Degree-qualified in a relevant field.
• Experience in food or nutrition manufacturing required.
• Direct experience in R&D leadership in premix formulation necessary.

Responsibilities

• Lead and grow the R&D department for nutritional products.
• Manage and develop the R&D Product Formulation team.
• Approve product specifications and ensure compliance.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Formulation expertise

Sports nutrition knowledge

Education

BSc/MSc in Food Science, Nutrition, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, or Chemical/Process Engineering

Tools

Powder technologies

Job description

Overview

• A global leader in ingredient solutions, supporting innovation across food, beverage, and sports nutrition markets.
• Driving growth through strategic partnerships with retailers, manufacturers, and health-focused brands.
• Renowned for high-quality, functional ingredients that help brands meet evolving consumer needs.

Role Summary

• The R&D Lead (Product Formulation) is responsible for leading and growing the R&D department that builds nutritional premixes and sports nutrition products across powders, RTM and RTD-support formats.
• Owns the full product value chain end to end, from concept to commercialisation, ensuring compliance with regulatory, quality, safety and commercial requirements.
• Manages and develops the R&D Product Formulation team, building capability, driving performance and strengthening succession pipelines.
• Defines and executes the departmental strategy aligned to NPD, margin, customer satisfaction and category growth goals.
• Oversees science‑based formulation of premixes, functional blends and sports nutrition products, ensuring efficacy, stability, sensory quality and commercial viability.
• Approves product specifications and ensures team expertise in functional ingredients, regulatory changes, raw‑material optimisation and dual sourcing.
• Provides technical leadership for customer briefs, presentations, scoping, costing and on‑time launch delivery, ensuring right‑first‑time development.
• Supports commercial, quality and production teams with technical service, compliance projects and raw‑material qualification.

Qualifications

• Degree‑qualified: BSc/MSc in Food Science, Nutrition, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, or Chemical/Process Engineering (or relevant).
• Experience in food or nutrition manufacturing, including people leadership and cross‑functional stakeholder management.
• Direct experience in an R&D leadership role in premix formulation, including vitamins, minerals, amino acids, botanicals and probiotics.
• Strong background in sports nutrition, covering whey and plant proteins, BCAA/EAA, creatine, electrolytes and pre‑workout products preferred.
• Technical expertise in powder technologies such as blending, segregation/flowability management, hygroscopic ingredients, encapsulation, granulation, milling and sieving.
• Proven ability to design science‑based formulations, applying data‑driven principles to create high‑performing products.
• Sound sensory understanding, including flavour and sweetener systems, masking strategies and texture optimisation for both RTM and RTD formats.

Benefits

• £Competitive Salary
• Pension
• Hybrid Working: 3 days on site, 2 days work from home
• Subsidised Gym membership