R&D Manager- Upper Respiratory

Perrigouk; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Perrigo is seeking an experienced R&D Manager - Upper Respiratory to translate consumer needs and scientific opportunities into differentiated, compliant self-care products. You will lead formulation, analytical development and regulatory strategies across cough, cold, flu, allergy and related self-care solutions.

As a senior scientific and business leader, you will guide external partners, manage risks, and drive portfolio growth while ensuring quality and regulatory compliance across global

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacy, Chemistry, Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering or related field.
• Substantial product-development experience in consumer healthcare, OTCs or regulated industries.
• Experience leading formulation, analytical development, stability, registration, scale-up and launch.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership across formulation, analytical development, stability, registration, scale-up, technology transfer and launch.
• Lead complex projects, manage competing priorities and influence multidisciplinary teams.
• Collaborate with external development, manufacturing and testing partners to ensure quality and regulatory readiness.
• Translate consumer needs, science and regulatory requirements into feasible product concepts and evidence plans.

Skills

Technical leadership

Formulation development

Analytical development

Stability programs

Regulatory documentation

Cross-functional collaboration

External partner management

AI-enabled tools usage

Education

Bachelor's degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences / Pharmacy / Chemistry / Biology / Biomedical Engineering / Chemical Engineering

Advanced degree (MSc, PharmD or PhD) desirable

Tools

AI-enabled tools

Job description

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At Perrigo, we are driven by our mission to Makes Lives Better Through Trusted Health and Wellness Solutions, Accessible to All. We are proud to be a Top 10 player in the European Consumer Self-Care market and the largest U.S. store brand provider of over the counter and infant formula. Dedicated to providing The Best Self-Care for Everyone, we are the people behind the brands you trust. We are Opill®, Compeed®, Solpadeine®, NiQuitin®, and many more. We Are Perrigo. We are committed to enhancing the wellbeing of our colleagues and consumers alike. We pride ourselves on fostering an inclusive, collaborative culture where each person can experience a sense of belonging.

Join us on our One Perrigo journey as we evolve to win in self-care.

Description Overview

At Perrigo, we believe better health should be within reach for everyone. As R&D Manager - Upper Respiratory, you will play a key role in translating consumer needs, category strategy and scientific opportunities into differentiated, compliant and commercially viable self-care products.
The R&D Manager - Upper Respiratory is a senior scientific and business leader responsible for shaping and executing the category’s innovation and product strategy across cough, cold, flu, allergy and related respiratory self-care solutions. Combining deep category expertise with enterprise-wide impact, the role provides technical and scientific leadership for product development, drives science-led innovation, protects and advances global portfolios, and enables growth across OTC medicines, medical devices, cosmetics and other relevant self-care classifications. Operating across brands and geographies, the role ensures the delivery of consumer-centric, compliant and commercially viable solutions that improve lives and strengthen Perrigo’s competitive position.

Scope of the Role

Technical Strategy & Development-

Define technical strategies and development requirements for Upper Respiratory NPD, lifecycle, base-business and refresh projects from feasibility through registration, industrialization, launch and post-launch.Translate consumer and commercial needs into technically feasible product concepts, target product profiles and evidence plans.Guide and critically review formulation, analytical, stability, scale-up and technology-transfer activities performed by specialist R&D teams and external partners.Identify technical risks early and recommend pragmatic, evidence-based solutions that protect quality, timelines and commercial viability.Ensure scientific rationale, development documentation and product knowledge remain robust and traceable throughout the product lifecycle

Identify and assess opportunities across cough, cold, flu, allergy and adjacent self-care areas in partnership with Scientific Office, Category and Commercial teams.Evaluate emerging ingredients, formulations, dosage forms, delivery technologies and claims for consumer benefit, differentiation, speed, cost and sustainability.Recommend reformulation, renovation, cost-improvement and lifecycle-extension opportunities across the existing portfolio.Assess external technologies, products, licensing opportunities and scalable platforms that can accelerate innovation across brands and markets.Provide technical assessments, development plans and risk-based recommendations for Stage Gate and portfolio decisions.

Scientific, Regulatory & Quality Excellence-

Ensure development programs meet applicable quality, safety, efficacy and regulatory requirements for OTC medicines and, where relevant, medical devices.Provide scientific input to regulatory strategies, pharmaceutical-development documentation, CTD modules and submissions.Critically review technical and claim support, development protocols and reports, scientific Q&A documents, SOPs and work instructions.Conduct scientific and technical due diligence of dossiers, external products and licensing opportunities.Lead technical assessment and resolution of product-quality, scientific and regulatory issues, translating conclusions into clear recommendations.

Cross-Functional & External Partner Leadership-

Act as R&D technical lead for assigned projects, integrating technical workstreams into clear milestones and portfolio priorities.Partner with R&D, Regulatory Affairs, Quality, Medical/Clinical, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Procurement, Commercial and other functions to align requirements, resolve trade-offs and enable timely decisions.Define scopes, requirements and deliverables for CDMOs, CROs, laboratories, suppliers and technology providers.Critically assess partner proposals, study designs, results and recommendations to ensure scientific quality, manufacturability and regulatory readiness.Translate complex technical topics into concise business implications and recommendations, while sharing knowledge and mentoring colleagues through project collaboration.

Apply AI, digital tools and data analytics to improve literature review, competitive intelligence, technical due diligence, data analysis, knowledge management and development documentation.Identify opportunities to simplify and automate repetitive R&D activities and translate emerging capabilities into practical ways of working.Critically evaluate AI-generated outputs to ensure conclusions remain scientifically sound, traceable and compliant with quality, regulatory and data requirements.Promote responsible digital adoption, knowledge sharing and continuous improvement across cross-functional teams.

Experience Required

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• University degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacy, Chemistry, Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering or a related scientific discipline.
  Substantial product-development experience in consumer healthcare, OTC pharmaceuticals, pharmaceuticals or another regulated industry.
• Experience providing technical leadership across formulation, analytical development, stability, registration, scale-up, technology transfer and launch, with the ability to critically review specialist work.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex projects, manage competing priorities and influence multidisciplinary teams without direct authority.
• Experience defining and overseeing work with external development, manufacturing and testing partners.
• Working knowledge of pharmaceutical development, APIs and excipients, analytical and stability programs, manufacturing processes, technical risk assessment, regulatory documentation and claims substantiation.
• Ability to connect consumer needs, science, regulation, quality, manufacturability, cost and commercial value and communicate clear recommendations in a global matrix organization.

Desirable Qualifications & Experience

• Advanced degree such as MSc, PharmD or PhD.
• Experience with OTC medicines, Upper Respiratory products or medical devices and applicable MDR requirements.
• Experience working across multiple markets, geographies and regulatory environments.
  Practical experience using AI-enabled tools, digital platforms and data analytics in R&D, combined with sound scientific judgment and awareness of responsible, compliant and traceable use.

Benefits

We believe our people are our greatest asset. Alongside competitive compensation, we offer benefits tailored to supporting you and your family, as well as career development opportunities to ensure you feel valued and supported, both professionally and personally.

Hybrid Working Approach

We love our offices and the setting they provide for in-person collaboration and celebration. But we also appreciate the opportunity to work remotely can energise you too, so we promote flexibility with the ability to work two days a week from home in many roles.

We are proud to be included in the Forbes list of "America's Best Employers by State 2024". Find out more here

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or other characteristics protected by law. #weareperrigo