R&D Manager

Premier Foods; Barnsley; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Pension up to 7.5%

Life assurance

Training

Employee discount scheme

Job summary

Premier Foods is seeking an experienced, hands-on R&D Manager to lead the development and optimisation of ambient cake products across our brand and private label ranges. This pivotal role delivers commercially successful, technically robust cakes with outstanding taste, texture and shelf life.

You will head end-to-end development from concept to scale-up, working with Marketing, Supply Chain, Technical, Procurement and Operations to turn ideas into market-ready products.

Qualifications

• Degree-level qualification in Food Science, Food Technology or related field.
• At least five years’ experience in ambient bakery product development.
• Proven experience managing complex NPD projects from concept through to launch, including scale-up.
• Strong knowledge of food manufacturing processes and ingredients.
• Excellent communication, organisational and leadership skills.
• Familiarity with HACCP, food safety standards and regulatory requirements.
• Creative mindset, commercial focus and consumer-first approach.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end development for ambient cakes from concept to scale-up and launch.
• Lead NPD/EPD projects across multiple sites with timelines and resources.
• Collaborate with Marketing, Supply Chain, Technical, Procurement and Operations.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, regulatory, labeling, quality and brand standards.
• Mentor technologists across three manufacturing sites and promote continuous improvement.
• Improve existing recipes to support margin, sustainability and nutrition goals.
• Document trials and learnings with a test-and-learn mindset.
• Manage Mondelez licensed cake NPD and product approvals.

Skills

R&D management

Project leadership

Food product development

HACCP knowledge

Leadership

Regulatory compliance

Quality control

Education

Degree in Food Science/Technology

Job description

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Join Premier Foods — where people, brands and purpose come together.

We’re looking for an experienced, hands‑on R&D Manager to lead the development and optimisation of ambient cake products across our brand and private label ranges. This is a key role within our R&D team, with responsibility for delivering commercially successful, technically robust cakes with outstanding taste, texture and shelf life.

You’ll play a pivotal role in bringing exciting new products to market across our much-loved Cadbury, Mr Kipling and Home Baking ranges, managing the journey from concept creation and recipe development through to scale‑up and launch

As R&D Manager, Cake and Home Baking, you’ll manage end-to-end product development for a wide range of ambient cake and home baking products. You’ll work closely with colleagues across Marketing, Supply Chain, Technical, Procurement and Operations to ensure brilliant ideas are turned into products that are feasible, commercially strong and loved by consumers.

This role will see you leading multiple NPD and EPD projects, owning timelines and resources, troubleshooting technical challenges and ensuring products meet food safety, regulatory, labelling, quality and brand standards. You’ll also manage and mentor a team of technologists across three manufacturing sites, creating a positive culture of curiosity, creativity and continuous improvement.

What you'll be doing?

In this role, you will:

• Manage the end-to-end development process for new products, from ideation and bench trials through to factory scale‑up and launch.
• Build and maintain a strong understanding of manufacturing processes and capabilities, ensuring product feasibility is considered alongside innovation.
• Identify and apply emerging technologies, ingredients and processes to improve product quality, shelf life and cost efficiency.
• Own timelines and resources across multiple development projects, ensuring milestones are met and risks are managed effectively.
• Act as a key link between Marketing, Supply Chain, Technical and Operations to ensure product feasibility and alignment with business strategy.
• Ensure all R&D outputs comply with relevant food safety regulations, labelling laws, internal quality standards and brand standards.
• Troubleshoot technical challenges to help deliver high‑quality products for consumers.
• Manage and mentor a team of technologist three manufacturing sites, encouraging curiosity, creativity and continuous improvement.
• Improve existing recipes and formulations to support margin, sustainability and nutrition goals.
• Foster a test‑and‑learn mindset, supported by clear documentation of trials, learnings and best practice
• Manage Mondelez licensed cake NPD and product approvals

What we need from you?

We’re looking for a creative, commercially minded R&D professional who is passionate about food and confident leading complex product development projects in a manufacturing environment.

You’ll ideally bring:

• A degree‑level qualification in Food Science, Food Technology or another relevant field.
• At least five years’ experience in food product development, ideally within the ambient bakery category.
• Proven experience managing complex NPD projects from concept through to launch, including scale‑up principles.
• Strong knowledge of food manufacturing processes and ingredients.
• Excellent communication, organisational and leadership skills.
• Familiarity with HACCP, food safety standards and regulatory requirements.
• A creative mindset, commercial focus and consumer‑first approach

What we offer you in return...?

• Bonus
• Up to 7.5% pension
• Life assurance
• Wide range of online and in‑house training
• Access to an employee discount scheme, with access to hundreds of nationwide retailers

At Premier foods we believe in inclusion, authenticity and individuality. We aim to ensure all existing and future colleagues are given equitable opportunities and are respected, valued and encouraged to bring their true authentic selves to work no matter who they are, what they look like, who they love or what they believe in. Our culture is one where everyone is welcome.

We're proud to be a Disability Smart employer and are committed to supporting disability inclusion throughout our recruitment process. If you experience any access issues or require reasonable adjustments at any stage, please let us know so we can ensure you have the support you need.