R&D Lead- Gummies

Found Recruitment Solutions Ltd; Greater London; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation opportunity

Site-based in London

Growth opportunities

Job summary

Found Recruitment Solutions Ltd. in London is seeking an experienced R&D Lead - Gummies to own gummy formulation from concept to commercial manufacture. This hands-on role involves development, lab and pilot-scale work, and close collaboration with Operations, Technical, Quality, Commercial and Supply Chain.

You will lead new gummy concepts, manage multiple projects, and contribute to building a growing gummy capability within the business.

Qualifications

• Significant hands-on experience developing gummies.
• Experience taking gummy formulations through trials, scale-up and commercial manufacture.
• Strong understanding of gummy ingredients, hydrocolloids and gelling systems.
• Experience working cross-functionally with Manufacturing, Technical, Quality and Supply Chain.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and optimisation of gummy formulations from concept to commercial manufacture.
• Translate briefs into technically robust, scalable products.
• Develop new gummy concepts aligned with customer and commercial opportunities.
• Oversee laboratory and pilot-scale development, testing texture, flavour, stability and manufacturability.
• Define processing parameters and guide scale-up to full production.
• Manage multiple development projects with clear priorities.

Skills

Gummy formulation

Scale-up

Laboratory development

Project management

Cross-functional

Manufacturing knowledge

Education

Scientific/technical background in nutraceuticals or food

Tools

Pilot-scale equipment

Job description

Starting Salary: £45,000 - £50,000 per annum

Working Pattern: Monday to Friday | Site-based | London | Relocation opportunity

A rapidly growing manufacturing business within the health and wellness sector is looking to appoint an R&D Lead - Gummies to play a key role in the next stage of its growth.

This is a genuinely exciting opportunity for an experienced Scientist with specialist gummy formulation and development experience to take technical ownership of gummy innovation within a business investing significantly in its future R&D and manufacturing capability.

Initially, this will be a highly hands-on role, developing and optimising formulations from initial concept through laboratory and pilot-scale development, factory trials, scale-up and successful commercial manufacture. You will work closely with Operations, Technical, Quality, Commercial, Supply Chain and Engineering to ensure products are technically robust, scalable and commercially viable.

Importantly, we are looking for someone with specific hands-on gummy experience. This could have been gained within supplements, nutraceuticals or confectionery. You will need to understand the science behind gummy formulation as well as the practical challenges involved in taking a formulation from the laboratory into commercial production.

As the operation continues to grow, there is significant scope for the R&D function to develop around this position, giving you the opportunity to build a team of Scientists and development specialists in the future.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead the development and optimisation of gummy formulations from initial concept through to commercial manufacture
• Translate customer briefs and commercial opportunities into technically robust, scalable and commercially viable products
• Develop new gummy concepts proactively alongside customer-led development projects
• Carry out and oversee laboratory and pilot-scale development, assessing formulation behaviour, setting characteristics, texture, flavour, appearance, stability and manufacturability
• Establish appropriate processing parameters including cooking, depositing, temperature control, setting and other critical process variables
• Lead the transition of products from bench and pilot scale through to full-scale factory production
• Plan and support factory trials, troubleshooting formulation and process challenges during scale-up
• Assess raw materials, functional ingredients and gelling systems, understanding their impact on formulation performance, processing and finished product quality
• Work closely with Operations and Engineering as the business expands its gummy manufacturing capability and introduces new production technology
• Manage multiple development projects simultaneously, maintaining clear priorities and project momentum
• Provide scientific and technical expertise during customer conversations, supporting new enquiries and development opportunities
• Act as a technical problem solver for complex gummy formulation, scale-up and manufacturing challenges
• Help establish R&D processes, development standards and ways of working as the function continues to grow.

What's In It for You

• Take technical ownership of gummy R&D within a rapidly growing manufacturing business
• Join at an exciting stage of investment in new R&D capability, manufacturing technology and increased production capacity
• The opportunity to work hands-on across formulation, pilot-scale development, trials, scale-up and commercial manufacture
• Significant scope to influence how the future R&D function operates and develops
• Work across both customer-led projects and proactive innovation, helping shape the future gummy product pipeline
• The longer-term opportunity to build, recruit and lead your own team of Scientists and development specialists.

Your Background

• Significant hands-on experience developing and formulating gummies is essential
• A scientific or technical background within nutraceuticals, food supplements, confectionery or another directly relevant environment
• Strong understanding of gummy formulation, including ingredients, hydrocolloids or gelling systems and their impact on finished product performance
• Experience taking gummy products from concept and formulation through trials, scale-up and commercial manufacture
• Strong understanding of the challenges involved in transferring formulations from laboratory or bench scale into factory production
• Experience carrying out or supporting pilot-scale and commercial production trials
• Experience working cross-functionally with Manufacturing, Technical, Quality, Regulatory, Commercial and Supply Chain teams
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage several development projects simultaneously
• Commercially minded, understanding that successful R&D needs to deliver products that are scientifically robust, scalable and commercially viable.

Join a Business That Invests in You

This is an opportunity to join a growing business at a point where R&D can genuinely influence how its future gummy capability is built.

Rather than stepping into a completely established function, you'll have the opportunity to help shape formulations, development processes, ways of working and the wider scientific capability around gummy innovation.

If you're a Scientist with genuine hands‑on gummy formulation experience and enjoy combining science with scale‑up, manufacturing problem solving and commercial product development, we'd love to hear from you