RD&A Senior Technologist I

Kerry; Naas; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Kerry in Naas, Ireland, seeks a Senior RD&A Technologist to lead end-to-end meat product development for Foodservice Europe. You will translate briefs into market-ready products, collaborating with flavourists, chefs and application specialists to drive innovation and value.

Reporting to the RD&A Manager, you will guide projects from concept through to commercialization, ensuring quality, regulatory compliance and scalable manufacturing readiness.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Food Science, Food Engineering or a related scientific discipline.
• Hands-on experience in meat product development.
• Strong understanding of the Foodservice and QSR sector.
• Experience conducting pilot plant trials and scale-up activities.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end formulation and development of meat products (coatings, marinades, glazes).
• Translate customer briefs into commercially viable products from ideation through to factory handover.
• Collaborate with flavourists, chefs and application specialists to develop and validate foodservice solutions.
• Plan, execute and document pilot plant trials and product validations.
• Support scale-up activities and first production runs with internal and external partners.
• Build strong customer relationships through technical presentations and collaborative problem-solving.
• Partner with Sales, Marketing and Business Development to support customer engagement and growth.

Skills

Meat product development

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Food science knowledge

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Food Science

Job description

About Kerry

Kerry is the world's leading taste and nutrition company for the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. Every day we partner with customers to create healthier, tastier and more sustainable products that are consumed by billions of people across the world. Our vision is to be our customers' most valued partner, creating a world of sustainable nutrition. A career with Kerry offers you an opportunity to shape the future of food while providing you opportunities to explore and grow in a truly global environment.

About the role

We are recruiting for a Senior RD&A Technologist to join our Foodservice Europe team at Kerry's Global Technology & Innovation Centre in Naas, Ireland.

This is a fantastic opportunity to become part of a passionate, creative and commercially focused team, developing winning products for some of Europe's leading Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) and Foodservice customers.

Reporting to the RD&A Manager, you will play a key role in developing innovative, market-relevant meat solutions using Kerry's industry-leading technologies. Working within a collaborative team of technologists and customer-facing experts, you will lead projects from concept through to commercialization, creating differentiated products that deliver exceptional taste, functionality and value for our customers.

The successful candidate will bring strong technical expertise, creativity and commercial awareness, alongside the ability to work cross-functionally to deliver best-in-class Taste & Nutrition solutions.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end formulation and development of meat products, including coatings, marinades, glazes and functional brines.
• Translate customer briefs into commercially viable products, taking concepts from ideation through to factory handover.
• Collaborate with flavourists, chefs and application specialists to develop and validate innovative foodservice solutions.
• Apply strong technical and commercial knowledge of ingredients, processing technologies and market trends.
• Develop cost-effective, scalable solutions aligned with manufacturing capabilities and regulatory requirements.
• Plan, execute and document pilot plant trials and product validations.
• Support scale-up activities and first production runs, both internally and with external manufacturing partners.
• Build strong customer relationships through technical expertise, presentations and collaborative problem-solving.
• Partner closely with Sales, Marketing and Business Development teams to support customer engagement and growth opportunities.
• Conduct research and development activities focused on improving flavour, texture, colour, nutrition and overall product performance.
• Ensure all products meet quality, food safety and regulatory standards, including managing shelf-life testing and technical documentation.
• Drive projects from concept to launch while effectively communicating progress, timelines and key milestones to stakeholders.

Qualifications and skills

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Food Science, Food Engineering or a related scientific discipline.
• Previous hands-on experience in meat product development.
• Strong understanding of the Foodservice and QSR sector.
• Proven expertise in ingredient functionality, formulation and meat processing technologies.
• Demonstrated track record of delivering products from concept through to commercial launch.
• Solid knowledge of food chemistry, sensory science, microbiology and food engineering principles.
• Experience conducting pilot plant trials, product scale-up and manufacturing support activities.
• Strong project management, communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• A collaborative, innovative mindset with a passion for developing market-leading food solutions.