R&D Manager

manucomm recruitment; Kingswood; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency is seeking an R&D Manager for a Food & Beverage manufacturer in Bristol. In this new role, you will lead an R&D team, manage the full product development lifecycle, and ensure compliance with industry standards. The ideal candidate will have over 10 years of R&D experience and a strong background in product development. This position offers a competitive salary and a generous benefits package, including an 11% pension contribution and death in service cover.

Benefits

Competitive salary

11% employer pension contribution

2x Death in Service

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years' experience within R&D in Food, Flavour, or Chemicals sector.
• At least 3 years' experience managing or mentoring technical teams.
• Strong background in product development and scale-up.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop a small R&D team.
• Progress new products through development and launch.
• Manage R&D facilities to ensure safety and compliance.

Skills

Leadership

Product development

Mentoring

Compliance management

Education

Degree qualified

Job description

R&D Manager - Food & Beverage

Office-based in Bristol

Competitive salary + 11% pension

2x Death in Service

Our client, a well-established Food & Beverage manufacturer based in central Bristol, is seeking an R&D Manager to join their business in a newly created position. This role will lead a small R&D team and take ownership of the full product development lifecycle, from early-stage concepts through to scalable commercial launch.

The Role

• Lead, mentor, and develop a small R&D team
• Provide structure and governance across R&D projects
• Progress new products and concepts through development, scale-up, and launch
• Identify BAU and "blue sky" R&D opportunities aligned with commercial strategy
• Plan, manage, and document product development trials
• Ensure full traceability and compliant documentation across all development work
• Maintain ISO, food safety, and GMP standards within R&D operations
• Manage R&D facilities and equipment to ensure safety and compliance
• Transfer technologies from pilot trials to production-scale processes
• Prepare and present technical and project updates to senior leadership
• Work closely with Commercial, NPD, and Technical teams to deliver projects on time and within budget

Candidate Requirements

• Minimum 10 years' experience within R&D (Food, Flavour, Chemicals, or similar regulated sector)
• Degree qualified
• At least 3 years' experience managing or mentoring technical teams
• Strong background in product development, scale-up, and commercialisation
• South West based or willing to relocate

Package

• Competitive salary
• 11% employer pension contribution
• 2x Death in Service

If the role is of interest, please apply with your CV today.

Keywords: R&D Manager, Technical R&D Manager, Product Development Manager, Innovation Manager, Research & Development Specialist