R&D Lead (Product Formulation)

Seven Search and Selection Ltd; England; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension

Hybrid Working (3 days on site, 2 days remote)

Subsidised Gym membership

Job summary

A recruitment agency is seeking an experienced R&D Lead (Product Formulation) to lead and grow the R&D department responsible for developing nutritional premixes and sports nutrition products. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in food or nutrition manufacturing, with a strong background in product formulation and leadership skills. This role offers a full-time position with hybrid working options and benefits including subsidised gym membership and pension.

Qualifications

• Direct experience in an R&D leadership role in premix formulation.
• Experience in food or nutrition manufacturing.
• Strong background in sports nutrition, covering whey and plant proteins.

Responsibilities

• Lead and grow the R&D department responsible for nutritional products.
• Define and execute departmental strategy aligned to NPD and growth goals.
• Provide technical leadership for customer briefs and presentations.
• Define and execute the department strategy aligned to NPD, margin and customer satisfaction goals.
• Oversee science‑based formulation, ensure efficacy, stability and commercial viability.
• Approve product specifications and maintain expertise in ingredients, regulatory changes and raw‑material sourcing.
• Provide technical leadership for customer briefs, scoping and on‑time launch delivery.

Skills

R&D leadership

Product formulation

Cross-functional stakeholder management

Data-driven product development

Technical expertise in powder technologies

Sensory understanding

Education

BSc/MSc in Food Science, Nutrition, or related field

Job description

Recruiter @ Seven Search and Selection Ltd | Specialising in Retail & FMCG

Direct message the job poster from Seven Search and Selection Ltd

Our client:

• 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.

The role:

• The R&D Lead (Product Formulation) is responsible for leading and growing the R&D department who are responsible for formulating, scaling and manufacturing nutritional premixes and sports nutrition products across powders, RTM and RTD‑support formats.
• Own the full product value chain end to end, from concept to commercialisation, ensuring compliance with regulatory, quality, safety and commercial requirements.
• Manage and develop the R&D Product Formulation team, building capability, driving performance and strengthening succession pipelines.
• The R&D Lead (Product Formulation) is responsible for defining and executing the departmental strategy aligned to NPD, margin, customer satisfaction and category growth goals.
• As R&D Lead (Product Formulation) you will oversee science‑based formulation of premixes, functional blends and sports nutrition products, ensuring efficacy, stability, sensory quality and commercial viability.
• You will approve product specifications and ensure team expertise in functional ingredients, regulatory changes, raw‑material optimisation and dual sourcing.
• The R&D Lead (Product Formulation) will provide technical leadership for customer briefs, presentations, scoping, costing and on‑time launch delivery, ensuring right‑first‑time development.
• Support commercial, quality and production teams with technical service, compliance projects and raw‑material qualification.
• Degree‑qualified: BSc/MSc in Food Science, Nutrition, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, or Chemical/Process Engineering (or relevant).
• Experience in food or nutrition manufacturing, including experience in 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 (any food and beverage raw materials).
• Strong background in sports nutrition, covering whey and plant proteins, BCAA/EAA, creatine, electrolytes and pre‑workout products will be highly beneficial.
• 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 & details:

• Pension
• Hybrid Working 3 days on site, 2 days’ work from home (Remote option for candidates located more than 1.5hrs away from Kent/London)
• Subsidised Gym membership

Please send your CV using the form on this page, quoting reference 16/17557/7. Confidentiality assured.

Whilst we would like to respond to all our on‑line applicants, regrettably we are unable to do so due to the high volumes we receive. If you do not hear back within 14 days unfortunately the relevant consultant has decided not to progress with your application. For alternative opportunities please search our vacancies on our website.

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Seniority level

Mid‑Senior level

Employment type

Full‑time

Job function

Production and Product Management

Industries

Food and Beverage Manufacturing, Food and Beverage Retail, and Wholesale Food and Beverage

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