Senior R&D Manager

King & Prince Seafood Corporation; Gloucester; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading company in seafood innovation as a senior R&D leader. You’ll spearhead product development, mentor teams, and drive sustainability initiatives while ensuring compliance with industry standards. This role in Gloucester offers competitive compensation and opportunities for growth in a collaborative environment.

Benefits

Professional development programs

Generous benefits

Work-life balance

Qualifications

• 10+ years of R&D experience or 15+ years with a Bachelor's degree.
• 6+ years in leadership within food industry.
• HACCP trained and knowledgeable in food safety.

Responsibilities

• Oversee product development and innovation.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to drive R&D projects.
• Ensure compliance with food safety regulations.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Innovation

Teamwork

Food Safety Standards

Regulatory Compliance

Consumer Insights

Product Testing

Project Management

Education

Master’s degree in food science

Bachelor’s degree in a related field

Tools

AI product development tools

Job description

In this role, you will oversee new product development, process optimization, and AI-driven food research to bring forward innovative seafood products and alternatives. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams, mentor R&D scientists & culinary teams, and cultivate relationships with suppliers and partners while ensuring compliance with food safety, regulatory, and corporate policies. This role requires a forward-thinking leader with a bias for action, a strong grasp of consumer insights, and a passion for sustainable food innovation.

What you’ll do:

• Innovation & Product Development: Identify new product opportunities, drive rapid prototyping, conduct organoleptic testing, and develop formulations that align with business objectives and consumer needs to ensure market differentiation and sustainability.
• Cross-Functional Partnerships: Collaborate with Marketing, Supply Chain, Operations, Finance, IT, and Sales teams to drive innovation and improve consumer engagement.
• Leadership & Mentorship: Lead a team of scientists and culinary team, fostering a culture of innovation and creativity while providing technical guidance and support.
• Project & Portfolio Management: Collaborate with Process Lead and Marketing team to oversee a portfolio of innovation & projects from concept to launch, managing timelines, budgets, and stakeholder expectations while ensuring alignment with business strategy.
• Technology & Process Optimization: Integrate AI and automation tools to streamline research methodologies, product testing, and formulation processes for efficiency.
• Consumer Insights & Sensory Science: Lead advanced consumer testing, sensory evaluation panels, and AI-driven analytics to refine product development.
• Regulatory & Sustainability Compliance: Ensure adherence to food safety regulations and promote environmentally responsible R&D practices, including sustainable ingredient sourcing, corporate guidelines and Gorton’s commitment to product quality.
• Competitive Benchmarking & Market Analysis: Partner with Marketing and Insights teams stay abreast with competitive and market/trend landscape to ensure Gorton’s remains a category leader.
• Supplier & Ingredient Sourcing Innovation: Work with procurement teams to identify and integrate innovative, high-quality, and cost-effective ingredients into product development.
• Talent Development & Mentorship: Lead, inspire, and develop a team of scientists and culinary team, fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration, and continuous learning.
• Risk Mitigation: Partner with Regulatory Affairs to develop plans to mitigate risk due to regulation changes and be Gorton’s brand stewardship.
• Supplier & External Relations: Build strong relationships with suppliers, co-packers, and external partners to support research and innovation initiatives.
• Open Innovation & External Partnerships: Partner with Gorton’s technical leaders to establish relationships with universities, startups, and research institutions to leverage emerging technologies for breakthrough innovations.
• Intellectual Property & Patent Strategy: Oversee proprietary formulations, patents, and trade secrets, ensuring competitive advantage in the marketplace.

What you’ll need:

• Master’s degree in food science with 10+ years of experience, OR Bachelor’s degree with 15+ years of R&D expertise, including 6+ years in team leadership within the food industry. Preference for experience in seafood or protein-based product development.
• Strong leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Proven track record of leading complex R&D projects from ideation to commercialization.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and technical research groups.
• Expertise in food formulation, experimental design, and product testing.
• Experience using AI product development tools and data-driven research methods.
• Understanding of business strategy and the role of R&D in market success.
• Willingness to travel (25–30% of the time).
• HACCP trained; strong knowledge of food safety standards and regulations.
• Ability to safely handle, test, taste and develop seafood products as part of product development and commercialization process.

Who we are:

Since 1849, America has trusted the Gorton’s Fisherman. And for over 170 years, Gorton’s has trusted our employees to work with integrity, pursue their curiosity, respond with agility, work collaboratively, and be passionate about our mission to spread the goodness of the sea by making quality seafood accessible to everyone. We provide a rich opportunity for professional growth, in a fun and collaborative environment, supported by our development and training programs, our generous benefits, work life balance, and the ability to make a difference. We invite you to join our national brand based in Gloucester, Massachusetts.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
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