R&D Senior Scientist

Kinisla Group; Ossett; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days leave

Matched pension scheme

Benefits platform

Job summary

Kinisla Group is seeking an R&D Senior Scientist to develop dairy and plant-based products at our Ossett facility. You will translate briefs into innovative solutions, manage projects end-to-end, and collaborate with Commercial, Marketing, NPI and Operations to meet timelines.

The role requires a degree in Food Science or related field, strong PM skills, and a passion for food innovation. Travel and a UK driving license are expected as part of cross-functional work.

Qualifications

• Degree in Food Science or related field.
• Experience in food product development.
• Strong project management and organisational skills.
• Ability to work in cross-functional teams and meet timelines.
• Commercial awareness and understanding of food manufacturing.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building.
• Passion for food, innovation and continuous improvement.
• Proactive, resilient and results-oriented.

Responsibilities

• Develop dairy and plant-based recipes meeting customer and commercial needs.
• Translate briefs into technically robust product solutions.
• Lead development from concept to upscale readiness with cross-functional teams.
• Manage projects and support teams to meet critical-path timelines.
• Collaborate with suppliers to identify new technologies and opportunities.
• Align processing requirements early to support efficient execution.
• Monitor market trends and consumer insights for innovation.

Skills

Project management

Cross-functional teamwork

Communication

Commercial awareness

Problem solving

Proactive

Education

Degree in Food Science

Job description

About the Role:

We are looking for an R&D Senior Scientist to join our team. Reporting to the R&D Lead, you will play a key role in developing innovative pipelines both for branded and private label products across our dairy and plant-based portfolio. This is an excellent opportunity for someone looking to build their career within a fast-paced food manufacturing environment, gaining exposure to development activity across the BSM category, technical ownership of the pipeline, customer briefs, and category priorities. This is a site-based role at our manufacturing facility in Ossett, West Yorkshire, with occasional travel required. A full UK driving license is essential.

What will I be doing?

• Develop dairy and plant-based recipes that meet customer, consumer and commercial requirements.
• Translate customer and business briefs into innovative, technically robust product solutions.
• Lead product development activities from concept through to upscale readiness, working closely with Commercial, Marketing, NPI and Operations teams.
• Manage development projects and support cross-functional teams to ensure delivery against critical path timelines.
• Collaborate with ingredient suppliers to identify new technologies, ingredients and market opportunities.
• Ensure new products, raw materials and processing requirements are aligned early in the development process to support efficient project execution.
• Maintain awareness of market trends, consumer insights and competitor activity to identify opportunities for innovation and renovation.
• Build strong relationships across internal functions and external partners while demonstrating Kinisla's values and customer-first mindset.

What do I need to be successful?

At Kinisla, we understand that people have very different career trajectories and experiences. In order to be successful in this role we would be looking for the right competencies and aptitudes as well as your proven track record of success in a similar role and environment.

These include:

• Degree in Food Science, Food Technology or a related discipline.
• Previous experience in product development within the food industry.
• Strong project management and organisational skills.
• Ability to work effectively within cross-functional teams and deliver against challenging timelines.
• Commercial awareness and an understanding of food manufacturing environments.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Passion for food, innovation and continuous improvement.
• A proactive, resilient and results-oriented approach.

What will I get in return?

At Kinisla, we believe in giving talented, curious people the opportunity to make a difference. We work as a team, searching for ways to inspire and lead the evolution of dairy, food and nutrition. We are a community of innovators, working across disciplines to solve global food challenges with a fresh approach. We want you to achieve whatever you put your mind to.

We also offer:

• 25 days annual leave (excluding bank holidays).
• Matched pension scheme.
• Benefits platform offering discounts and cashback on major retailers.

About Kinisla

Kinisla is a vertically integrated farm-to-fork business with a very substantial consumer foods presence and a leading nutritional and dairy ingredients division, delivering high-quality dairy solutions with a focus on sustainability and innovation. From partnering with local family farms to producing world-class dairy products, we ensure every step of our value chain reflects our commitment to excellence.

With over 50 years' experience in milk processing, dairy and nutritional technology advancement, and product innovation, we are a key stakeholder in the global food industry and creators of a strong portfolio of market leading dairy brands including Cheestrings, Charleville and Coleraine Cheese, Dairygold, Golden Cow and our new SMUG range. Our from food, for food culture and deep-rooted connection to our 2,800 milk suppliers differentiates our business and offers captivating opportunities for our customers and consumers.

Our dairy comes from some of the world’s richest grazing land and is produced by a network of Irish family farms that have one of the lowest carbon footprints in the world. Through a combination of expertise, innovation, and sustainability, Kinisla is proud to shape the future of dairy while meeting the diverse needs of our farmers, customers, and communities.

Headquartered in Tralee, Co. Kerry, we operate multiple manufacturing facilities in the southwest of Ireland, including Listowel, Charleville, Newmarket, and Farranfore. Additionally, we manage 29 Farm & Home stores throughout the region, ensuring comprehensive coverage and service. In Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom, our presence extends to key locations in Portadown, Coleraine, and Ossett.

Globally, Kinisla employs over 1,700 dedicated professionals across Ireland, Northern Ireland, the UK, USA, Netherlands, Spain, Germany, and China. In 2024, we achieved a turnover of approximately €1.3 billion, reflecting our commitment to excellence and growth.

Our recruitment, selection and assessment process are based on the skills and competencies of the specific roles and based entirely on merit. We are committed to and value Diversity and Inclusion in all recruitment processes within Kinisla and do not discriminate based on gender, race, class, economic status, ethnic background, sexual orientation, age, political beliefs, veteran status, marital status or any other protected characteristic.

Please note: We do not accept CVs or candidate profiles from recruitment agencies where Kinisla terms of business have not been signed. Additionally, we will not consider or agree to payment of any recruiter fee under these circumstances. This also applies to CVs or candidate profiles sent directly to any Kinisla Hiring Managers.