Manager R&D

Position Title: Manager R&D
Position Type: Regular - Full-Time
Position Location: Scarborough
Requisition ID: 34072
There's nothing beige about McCain...
Except our potatoes - and we're extremely passionate about them.
When you join McCain, you'll be joining the biggest player in the frozen potato game, bringing people together around the nation for over 60 years by sharing simple, delicious planet friendly food.
We've partnered with thousands of the country's supermarkets, pubs, restaurants, hospitals, and schools to change the way people see the humble spud. It's all about elevation and creating something better.
So, come and make your career at McCain Foods.
About the role
Responsible for the leadership and implementation of Product development plans working with your team and in partnership with the other disciplines involved in the project teams (eg GB marketing team) following the principles of project management.
Responsible for the day to day management, coaching and development of your direct reports. Support training to achieve best in class execution & development. Drive deployment of GB and Global strategy. This means, identify consumer/customer tensions to solve, use of demand space data to translate into product development briefs , investigate feasibility of "new concepts" using existing internal network & third party, and at the same time building relationships to develop and implement new products into the marketplace. Also to lead development & execution of R&D initiatives. Responsible for Product Stewardship to ensure that Procurement, Value Engineering and Product maintenance initiatives on selected products are governed & validated with excellence.
Responsibilities:
Product Development
• Leading your team as the driving force behind them to deliver development projects successfully to quality, safety, time and cost standards, from concept/ideation stage to handover to the manufacturing/QA teams. Ensuring the scope of projects is managed to deliver positive cost/benefit ratios, IP is considered and in collaboration with key functions• Being part of the GB McCain management team, keeping abreast of our business priorities and that of the industry as whole and conveying this information back to your team to ensure accurate information is always available to assist in the NPD process• Build relationships to ensure a network of suppliers/non-competing businesses share our values and consumer focus• Focus on improving communication & relationship with third parties to accelerate GB growth• Ensure management of our day to day procedures, specification and Innovation portfolio system• Being lead on a global project and/or initiative (Product Stewardship) to achieve our Innovation growth ambition
Communication
• Maintaining a good relationship and communicating with project team Leaders (Marketing), Suppliers and Third Party Suppliers where applicable• Regularly update R&D Director as to status of projects and any change to key milestones using relevant approved documentation
People Development
• Continuous development of the R&D potato/appetiser team in support of growth ambitions and succession plans• Raising the profile of all members of the team and ensuring fair allocation of resource across short and long term projects• Carry out timely KPI Review's for all direct reports and ensure successful completion of PDP's in conjunction with them. Using these as a real development tool for team members by reviewing quarterly
About you
• Experience within the food industry in related areas - Innovation or Product Development, or Product Management for Product Delivery• Degree level in food science or technology• Experience of managing people and delivery of NPD projects to consumer requirements using project management Principles• Minimum of 7 years experience of working in a fast moving NPD environment dealing with both internal and external customers and managing change• Understanding of the information required and legal aspects necessary for generation of packaging• General knowledge of manufacturing processes and experience of working in this environment• Excellent communication (verbal, written) proven at senior levels in cross-departmental working• Track record of achieving results• Positive attitude and highly self motivated, with ability to motivate others• A lateral thinker who seeks to present solutions, not problems • A flexible individual, able to handle multiple tasks competently• Passionate about developing people• Full driving license• Ability to travel as and when required (globally as well as regionally)
WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME?
Although we do encourage you to taste the goods you'll be pleased to know we don't pay you in chips. For working hard, you'll also get a great salary and some pretty good benefits including:
• Achievable personal and business performance-based bonus• Generous car allowance • An excellent pension where we will pay double what you do, up to a maximum of 12% of your pay • Flexible holidays - where you can buy & sell up to 5 days holiday per year • Optional health cash plan • Cycle to work scheme • 'Chips In' Volunteering Day Off - to make a positive impact to the long-term development of McCain communities across the globe
And of course, being part of a Global business there are great opportunities to shine/thrive should you wish to relocate in the future. We have an impressive 5 year growth plan that presents development & progression opportunities for those who seek it out.
WHERE YOU'LL WORK:
Being in the office every single day is a thing of the past. Here at McCain, we champion hybrid working. This means we don't have a set expectation of exactly when you need to be in the office - however we do encourage our full-time, office-based people to connect in person with others for around half of their working time as that's the best way for us to build and maintain our connections. Our head office (Customer Experience Centre) is on the outskirts of Scarborough - 1.5 hours away from Leeds City Centre, and about an hour from York. We have lots of colleagues who travel to and from our Experience Centre (even if it is just for a good coffee!) and because hybrid really does mean hybrid at McCain, they get the opportunity to collaborate with their colleagues when they're in the office, and balance that with working from home to ensure they get a good life-work balance.
McCain Foods is an equal opportunity employer. We see value in ensuring we have a diverse, antiracist, inclusive, merit-based, and equitable workplace. As a global family-owned company we are proud to reflect the diverse communities around the world in which we live and work. We recognize that diversity drives our creativity, resilience, and success and makes our business stronger.
McCain is an accessible employer. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials or accessible meeting rooms), please let us know and we will work with you to meet your needs.
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Job Family: Research & Development
Division: Global Research and Development
Department: Potato
Location(s): GB - United Kingdom : England : Scarborough
Company: McCain Foods (G.B.) Ltd