Dairy R&D Manager

JOB PURPOSE

You will be responsible for managing all R&D projects, complex new product development (NPD) and existing product development (EPD) projects, providing technical leadership, and driving innovation in line with business objectives. This role will involve close collaboration with cross- functional teams, customers, and industry partners to ensure product excellence and compliance with industry standards.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Project Delivery (Complex NPD & EPD)

• Lead the development and launch of technically complex new products (NPD) through the stage gate process, ensuring timely delivery and resolving formulation or processing challenges.
• Oversee product renovation (EPD) to maintain product relevance, improve quality, and align with evolving industry and customer needs.
• Manage an active development pipeline aligned with business priorities.
• Provide technical support to the wider NPD team, acting as an expert in dairy formulation and processing.

Product Technical Guidance & Compliance

• Provide technical leadership and guidance internally and to customers on dairy formulation, processing, and product optimisation.
• Troubleshoot complex technical challenges, ensuring project timelines remain on track.
• Ensure compliance with current industry regulations and best practices, working closely with the technical and regulatory teams.
• Support knowledge-sharing initiatives to upskill the wider NPD and operational teams in dairy formulation and processing techniques

Research & Development (R&D)

• Scope and drive R&D initiatives that align with future growth opportunities, both within and beyond existing capabilities.
• Develop new and refine existing cultured dairy and fresh dairy products, ensuring market and customer requirements are met.
• Identify and execute the development of technical solutions that address industry challenges and enhance product performance.
• Validate ingredient technical functionality in application, ensuring that formulations meet performance, stability, and processing requirements.

Continuous Improvement

• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, identifying new ingredients, tools, and technologies to enhance product and process efficiencies.
• Work closely with site directors and operations teams to identify and implement manufacturing process improvements.
• Provide technical expertise to production and quality teams, supporting the resolution of customer complaints, production inefficiencies, and product-related challenges.
• Establish and promote best practice standards in dairy product development, ensuring innovation is embedded across the business.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Strong background in dairy with hands-on experience in formulation, processing, and scale-up from bench to factory.
• Expertise in cultured dairy (e.g., yoghurt, sour cream, crème fraîche) and soft cheese development.
• Experience with product fortification (e.g., culture, protein, starches, stabilisers).
• Proven track record in managing B2B product development.
• Ability to influence and manage multiple projects, balancing priorities and delivering results.
• Excellent problem-solving, communication, and project management skills.

Preferred (Desirable but not essential)

• Experience with custard, mascarpone, sweetened/stabilised cream, sweetened condensed milk, chocolate crumb, butter/AMF.
• Knowledge of reverse osmosis (RO) and ultrafiltration (UF) technologies.
• A basic understanding of dairy ingredients in finished product applications.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

We are looking for a proactive and motivated individual with a curious mindset and a passion for dairy innovation. You should be comfortable working both independently and collaboratively, with the ability to drive projects forward and solve technical challenges.

If you have a strong background in dairy R&D and are looking for an exciting opportunity to shape the future of dairy innovation, we’d love to hear from you!