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R&D Manager - Food & Beverage
Bristol (Office-based)
Competitive salary + 11% pension
2x Death in Service
 
Our client, a well-established Food & Beverage manufacturer based in central Bristol, is seeking an R&D Manager to join their business in a newly created position.
This role will lead a small R&D team and take ownership of the full product development lifecycle, from early-stage concepts through to scalable commercial launch.
 
The Role
·Lead, mentor, and develop a small R&D team
·Provide structure and governance across R&D projects
·Progress new products and concepts through development, scale-up, and launch
·Identify BAU and "blue sky" R&D opportunities aligned with commercial strategy
·Plan, manage, and document product development trials
·Ensure full traceability and compliant documentation across all development work
·Maintain ISO, food safety, and GMP standards within R&D operations
·Manage R&D facilities and equipment to ensure safety and compliance
·Transfer technologies from pilot trials to production-scale processes
·Prepare and present technical and project updates to senior leadership
·Work closely with Commercial, NPD, and Technical teams to deliver projects on time and within budget

Candidate Requirements
·Minimum 10 years' experience within R&D (Food, Flavour, Chemicals, or similar regulated sector)
·Degree qualified
·At least 3 years' experience managing or mentoring technical teams
·Strong background in product development, scale-up, and commercialisation
·South West based or willing to relocate

Package
·Competitive salary
·11% employer pension contribution
·2x Death in Service

If the role is of interest, please apply with your CV today.

Keywords: R&D Manager, Technical R&D Manager, Product Development Manager, Innovation Manager, Research & Development Specialist