Senior R&D Manager Bakery

Puratos; Emilia-Romagna; On-site; EUR 55,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual performance bonus

Welfare package

Training and development opportunities

Global collaboration opportunities

Career growth in multinational

Flexible working arrangements

Job summary

Puratos Italy in Parma seeks a Senior R&D Manager Bakery to lead local bakery R&D strategy, drive innovation, and build high-performing teams across the organization.

You will collaborate with Sales, Marketing, Operations, Quality and Supply Chain, and visit customers about 70% of the time to shape product development with a data-driven, international mindset.

Qualifications

• Degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Food Engineering, or related discipline.
• 8-10 years of experience in R&D within the food manufacturing industry.
• Solid knowledge of Bakery technologies and product development.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the local Bakery R&D strategy aligned with business goals.
• Lead and develop the Bakery R&D team while collaborating with cross-functional teams.
• Identify emerging market trends and drive product innovation.
• Manage the R&D pipeline with effective prioritization and timely execution.
• Ensure compliance with standards including BRC requirements.

Skills

English fluency

Italian fluency

People leadership

Project management

Business acumen

Stakeholder management

Education

Degree in Food Science/Technology/Engineering

Job description

Senior R&D Manager Bakery

We have an exciting opportunity to share with you!  Puratos Italy is looking for a Senior R&D Manager Bakery to join our Italian Headquarters in Parma.

We are seeking a passionate, customer-focused, and business-oriented R&D leader who is eager to drive innovation, develop high-performing teams, and create value through cutting-edge bakery solutions.

Your Mission

As a member of the Italian R&D Leadership Team, reporting directly to the R&D Director, you will play a key role in shaping the Bakery innovation strategy, supporting business growth, and strengthening customer partnerships.

By combining strong technical expertise, people leadership, and commercial awareness, you will ensure Puratos continues to be recognized as a trusted innovation partner and market leader in Bakery.

This position requires significant customer and market exposure, with approximately 70% mobility for customer visits, product development activities, and market engagement.

What You Will Do

• Develop and execute the local Bakery R&D strategy in line with business objectives and growth ambitions.
• Build and maintain strong customer relationships, promoting co-creation and innovation projects in collaboration with Key Account Managers.
• Lead, coach, and develop the Bakery R&D team, fostering engagement, performance, and professional growth.
• Collaborate closely with Sales, Marketing, Operations, Quality, and Supply Chain teams to deliver successful innovation projects.
• Identify emerging market trends, ingredients, technologies, and consumer needs to drive product innovation.
• Manage the Bakery innovation pipeline, ensuring effective prioritization and timely project execution.
• Define, monitor, and continuously improve relevant Bakery R&D KPIs.
• Ensure compliance with internal standards, regulatory requirements, and certification schemes, including BRC requirements.
• Safeguard the accuracy, integrity, and confidentiality of product formulas, specifications, and technical documentation.
• Promote the adoption of digital tools, data-driven decision-making, and innovative ways of working across R&D activities.

Key Deliverables

• Lead Bakery product and technology innovation initiatives that support business growth and customer success.
• Develop, adapt, and optimize products to meet customer expectations and market demands.
• Drive formulation development, recipe optimization, and value engineering projects.
• Support Operations, Quality Assurance, and Quality Control teams during industrialization, scale-up, and continuous improvement activities.
• Conduct local and international benchmarking studies to identify best practices and innovation opportunities.
• Deliver outstanding technical support to customers and commercial teams.
• Strengthen collaboration with Global and Regional Bakery R&D teams to leverage knowledge and accelerate innovation.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with universities, research institutions, suppliers, and external innovation networks.

What We Expect From You

• Degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Food Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 8-10 years of experience in R&D roles within the food manufacturing industry.
• Solid knowledge of Bakery technologies, ingredients, and product development processes.
• Proven experience leading, coaching, and developing technical teams.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to translate commercial priorities into actionable R&D strategies.
• Excellent project management and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Strong communication, influencing, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to work effectively in an international and multicultural environment.
• Fluent English and Italian.
• Curiosity for digital innovation, including data, automation, and AI, with a desire to leverage technology to improve efficiency and accelerate innovation.

What You Can Expect From Puratos

At Puratos, we recognize and reward talent, leadership, and dedication. For this role, the expected base salary range is €55,000 - €65,000 gross per year, depending on experience, expertise, and qualifications.

In addition to the base salary, we offer:

• Annual performance bonus.
• Company welfare and benefits package.
• Training and development opportunities through local and international programs.
• Exposure to global innovation projects and international collaboration.
• Career growth opportunities within a rapidly growing multinational organization.
• A dynamic, collaborative, and innovation-driven work environment.
• Flexible working arrangements in line with company policies.

We are committed to creating an environment where people can grow, innovate, and make a meaningful impact. If you are looking for an opportunity to combine technical excellence, leadership, and customer engagement within a global food ingredients company, we would love to hear from you.

Our Mission

At Puratos, we believe that food has extraordinary power in people's lives. As a global leader in bakery, patisserie, and chocolate ingredients, we transform innovation and food culture into opportunities for our customers' success.

We continuously improve the way we work by embracing digital innovation, data, automation, and AI to learn, collaborate, and create impact together.

Together, we move the planet forward by creating innovative food solutions for the health and well-being of people everywhere. With more than 11,000 employees in over 85 countries, Puratos combines a pioneering spirit, passion for excellence, and a unique people-centered culture.