R&D Project Manager- 12 month FTC Hybrid

Jordans Cereals; Jordans; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid & Flexible work culture

Competitive salary

Pension scheme – up to 10%

Job summary

Jordans Cereals in the United Kingdom seeks an experienced Project Manager to join our R&D team on a 12-month fixed-term contract, leading innovation, renovation and business change from concept through to launch in a fast-paced FMCG environment.

You will coordinate across Product Development, Supply Chain, Technical, Operations, Marketing and Commercial to ensure on-time, market-ready changes, while navigating complexity, deadlines and regulatory requirements.

Qualifications

• Proven project management experience within FMCG, food manufacturing, consumer goods or a fast-paced operational environment.
• Strong knowledge of NPD/EPD delivery, stage and gate governance, launch planning, risk management and cross-functional project routines.
• Experience managing artwork, packaging, specifications, technical approvals, customer samples, supplier lead times and factory trial milestones.
• Clear, confident communication with busy cross-functional teams, turning complexity into practical actions and decisions.

Responsibilities

• Leading innovation, renovation and change projects from concept through to successful launch.
• Co-ordinate cross-functional teams across R&D, Technical, Operations, Supply Chain, Packaging and Commercial to deliver outcomes.
• Create and manage project plans with visible milestones, risks and dependencies.
• Facilitate project meetings, remove barriers and maintain momentum and priorities.
• Coordinate launch-critical activities including artwork, factory trials and first production runs.
• Use Microsoft 365, AI tools and digital workflows to improve collaboration and delivery.
• Provide clear project updates and recommendations to stakeholders for timely decisions.
• Balance pace with governance to meet quality, food safety, regulatory and customer requirements.

Skills

Project management

FMCG experience

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional collaboration

Risk management

Tools

Microsoft 365

AI tools

Job description

At Jordans Cereals, we never settle for bland. For over 50 years, we’ve been crafting wholesome, tasty and healthier cereals that bring nature’s best to breakfast tables around the world. As pioneers in cereals, we’ve always pushed boundaries – combining curiosity, bold thinking and natural ingredients to stay ahead and inspire the category.

Proud to be part of Associated British Foods (ABF), we pair the strength of a global group with the agility of a forward-thinking brand. Jordans is more than cereals – it’s a place to grow your career. Curiosity is our secret ingredient. We think differently, act bravely and collaborate with energy and openness to bring out the best in each other.

Together we pioneer innovation, build distinctive brands beyond the bowl, and own our impact on people and planet. Your next opportunity could be just one click away.

Overview Of Role

Are you someone who loves turning great ideas into reality?

We're looking for an experienced Project Manager to join our R&D team on a 12-month fixed-term contract, leading innovation, renovation and business change projects from concept through to launch. Working at the heart of a fast-paced FMCG environment, you'll bring structure, pace and momentum to a varied portfolio of projects, collaborating across Product Development, Supply Chain, Technical, Operations, Marketing and Commercial teams. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who thrives on building relationships, navigating complexity and making things happen, ensuring new products and changes are delivered successfully, on time and ready for market.

Key Accountabilities

• Leading innovation, renovation and change projects from concept through to successful launch.
• Bringing together cross-functional teams across R&D, Technical, Operations, Supply Chain, Packaging and Commercial to deliver great outcomes.
• Creating and managing project plans, ensuring milestones, risks and dependencies are visible and effectively managed.
• Driving momentum by facilitating project meetings, removing barriers and keeping teams focused on priorities.
• Coordinating launch-critical activities, including product development, artwork, factory trials, technical approvals and first production runs.
• Using Microsoft 365, AI tools and digital workflows to improve collaboration, visibility and delivery.
• Providing clear project updates and recommendations to stakeholders, ensuring informed and timely decision-making.
• Balancing pace with effective governance, ensuring projects meet quality, food safety, regulatory and customer requirements.

The Right Person

• Proven project management experience within FMCG, food manufacturing, consumer goods or a closely related fast-paced operational environment.
  • Strong knowledge of NPD/EPD delivery, stage and gate governance, launch planning, risk management and cross-functional project routines.
  • Experience managing artwork, packaging, specifications, technical approval, customer samples, supplier lead times and factory trial milestones.
  • Clear, confident communication with busy cross-functional teams, turning complexity into simple actions, decisions and next steps.
  • Sound judgement to balance speed, cost, quality, service and risk in an FMCG food environment.
  • Ability to cut through ambiguity, identify options and recommend practical solutions that keep projects moving.
  • Strong stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to challenge constructively, elevate appropriately and influence without direct authority.
  • Positive energy, resilience and pace, while staying calm and practical when timelines, priorities or project risks change.
  • Confident using M365 tools to manage timelines, action trackers, risk registers, reporting packs and visibility of delivery.

Desirable (Not Essential):

• Experience working in a branded food business or with cereal, snacking, breakfast, grocery or retailer-led launch environments.
  • Formal project management training or qualification would be helpful but is not essential.

We can offer....

• Competitive salary
• Pension Scheme – up to 10% employer contributions
• Hybrid & Flexible work culture
• Buy holiday scheme
• Discounted products
• Health Cash Plan
• Career opportunities - ABF group employs 128,000 employees worldwide.
• Discounts on over 900 retailers on our discount platform
• Group Cycle to work scheme
• Free Parking