Programme Lead - R&D

Morgan McKinley; Cork; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Morgan McKinley is supporting a leading international organisation in appointing a Senior Research & Innovation (R&I) Programme Manager. This high-impact role blends technical expertise with end-to-end programme leadership across R&I, process, packaging and product teams.

You will lead R&I delivery for major capacity and manufacturing programmes, focusing on start-up of new production lines and translating requirements into execution plans while aligning stakeholders to drive multi-workstream

Qualifications

• Degree-level qualification in Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, Food Technology, Food Science or a related discipline.
• 10+ years' experience in R&I technical project or programme management within FMCG, food, pharma, manufacturing or a comparable environment.
• Strong track record leading complex, multi-year, cross-functional programmes through to operational deployment.
• Experience working in a matrix organisation and influencing senior stakeholders across technical and operational functions.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to create alignment and drive decisions.
• Strong programme management capability, including planning, governance, risk management, dependencies and delivery.
• Good understanding of quality and food safety requirements, together with experience of qualification and validation processes.
• Experience with aseptic processing and packaging line start-ups would be highly valuable.
• Liquid product/process experience is strongly preferred.
• PMP or equivalent programme/project management certification is desirable.
• Comfortable travelling up to 25% to other European sites.

Responsibilities

• Lead R&I activities across complex, cross-functional capacity and manufacturing programmes, acting as the central point of contact.
• Translate strategy and technical requirements into robust programme plans, milestones, deliverables and governance.
• Work closely with product, process and packaging teams to ensure R&I requirements are integrated and delivered effectively.
• Coordinate matrix teams, creating clarity around roles, priorities, dependencies and accountabilities.
• Track programme progress, resources, risks and milestones, proactively resolving issues and escalating decisions where needed.
• Identify conflicts, opportunities and interdependencies across projects and drive timely resolution.
• Represent R&I in senior governance forums and provide clear, concise communication on progress, risks and key decisions.
• Balance pace, quality, technical robustness and risk when making decisions in complex and uncertain environments.
• Support successful start-up and deployment of new production capability, ensuring R&I objectives are delivered on time and to the required standard.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Programme management

Communication skills

Cross-functional leadership

Education

Chemical Engineering or related discipline

Job description

We are delighted to support a leading international organisation with the appointment of a Senior Research & Innovation (R&I) Programme Manager. This is a high-impact role combining strong technical expertise with end-to-end programme leadership, working across Research & Innovation, process, packaging and product teams.

You will lead R&I delivery for major capacity and manufacturing programmes, with a particular focus on the start-up of new production lines. The role is ideal for someone who can translate technical and innovation requirements into clear execution plans, align complex stakeholders, and drive delivery across multiple workstreams.

This is a fixed term contract role until the end of 2029 with the possibility of extension.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead R&I activities across complex, cross-functional capacity and manufacturing programmes, acting as the central point of contact.
• Translate strategy and technical requirements into robust programme plans, milestones, deliverables and governance.
• Work closely with product, process and packaging teams to ensure R&I requirements are integrated and delivered effectively.
• Coordinate matrix teams, creating clarity around roles, priorities, dependencies and accountabilities.
• Track programme progress, resources, risks and milestones, proactively resolving issues and escalating decisions where needed.
• Identify conflicts, opportunities and interdependencies across projects and drive timely resolution.
• Represent R&I in senior governance forums and provide clear, concise communication on progress, risks and key decisions.
• Balance pace, quality, technical robustness and risk when making decisions in complex and uncertain environments.
• Support successful start-up and deployment of new production capability, ensuring R&I objectives are delivered on time and to the required standard.

What We're Looking For

• Degree-level qualification in Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, Food Technology, Food Science or a related discipline.
• 10+ years' experience in R&I technical project or programme management within FMCG, food, pharma, manufacturing or a comparable environment.
• Strong track record leading complex, multi-year, cross-functional programmes through to operational deployment.
• Experience working in a matrix organisation and influencing senior stakeholders across technical and operational functions.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to create alignment and drive decisions.
• Strong programme management capability, including planning, governance, risk management, dependencies and delivery.
• Good understanding of quality and food safety requirements, together with experience of qualification and validation processes.
• Experience with aseptic processing and packaging line start-ups would be highly valuable.
• Liquid product/process experience is strongly preferred.
• PMP or equivalent programme/project management certification is desirable.
• Comfortable travelling up to 25% to other European sites.

Why This Role?

This is an opportunity to take a visible leadership position within a major Research & Innovation programme, bringing together technical expertise, programme management and cross-functional leadership. You will play a key role in building new capacity and turning R&I strategy into successful operational delivery.