At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative dairy product development and manage a dynamic project portfolio.
- Company: Join a global leader in the dairy industry with a focus on sustainability.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, travel opportunities, and a chance to shape the future of dairy products.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with excellent career growth and global exposure.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by driving innovation and leading a high-performing team.
- Qualifications: Master’s degree in a relevant field and 5 years of leadership experience required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 € per year.
Location: Open in Europe
Full-time
Job Purpose and Dimensions
Lead the Dairy Product Development team and own the dairy segment product and project portfolio. Partner with Sales to deliver innovative, market‑ready solutions; drive cost‑out through raw material optimization, value engineering, and simplification; and ensure business continuity by qualifying alternatives and adapting to regulatory and compliance requirements. Ensure efficient resource allocation and project execution aligned to business objectives, balancing short‑, medium‑ and long‑term priorities. Manage internal and external partners, with a strong focus on customer needs. Business partner to the Meat & Dairy BU, leading dairy product development across yoghurt, desserts, processed cheese, soft cheese, and dairy specialties. Part of the Global Protein Growth category.
Key Responsibilities
- Own the project portfolio, contributing to profitable growth through innovation and sustainability, simplification, compliance and cost‑out initiatives aligned to the business strategy.
- Lead the execution of the approved R&D pipeline through the Stage‑Gate process, delivering to committed timelines and enabling strong cross‑functional teamwork across multiple functions and sites.
- Prioritise and allocate resources based on project complexity, value and strategic importance.
- Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to ensure successful delivery of key business initiatives.
- Actively contribute to global Protein technical portfolio leverage.
- Provide technical support for existing products.
- Lead the deployment of Global and BG R&D programmes, KPIs, processes and tools.
Team and Culture
Lead, coach and develop a high‑performing team. Cultivate a collaborative, innovative culture and ensure effective communication across regions, business units, functions and markets. Champion safety and customer focus. Drive process management and compliance.
Intellectual Property Management
Manage IP strategy and confidentiality agreements. Oversee the patent‑filing process in coordination with Legal. Protect company innovations from competitive threats.
Key Challenges
- Translate diverse customer needs into commercially viable packaging solutions, and respectfully decline requests that are not viable.
- Build and lead cross‑customer project teams to deliver high‑impact results (end‑to‑end processes, raw‑material simplification, BCP and portfolio management) across diverse regions and cultures.
- Balance short‑term and long‑term priorities through effective resource allocation and a strong drive for results.
Qualifications / Requirements
- Good scientific background, preferably Master’s Degree in chemistry, engineering, material science or equivalent.
- Minimum 5 years’ experience in people leadership within product development environment, preferably in a matrixed B2B.
- Project management experience in matrix organisation.
- Experience in innovation and competitiveness portfolio management, with strong data analytics understanding.
- Proven customer engagement and stakeholder management.
- Willingness to travel around 30% of time (primarily in Europe).
Specific Skills and Abilities
- Strong project and resource management skills.
- Ability to coach and mentor.
- Excellent interpersonal, negotiation and presentation skills.
- Solid understanding of market trends and customer dynamics.
- Strong business acumen and strategic mindset.
- Comfortable working in complex, matrixed organisations with global reach and interaction.
R&D Manager - Product Development in Birmingham employer: Amcor
As an R&D Manager in Product Development, you will thrive in a dynamic and innovative environment that prioritises collaboration and employee growth. Our company fosters a culture of creativity and inclusivity, offering extensive professional development opportunities and the chance to lead a high-performing team dedicated to delivering market-ready dairy solutions. With a strong commitment to sustainability and customer focus, we provide a unique platform for you to make a meaningful impact across diverse regions in Europe.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land R&D Manager - Product Development in Birmingham
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its products. Understand their market position and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals, especially in dairy product development.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! Be ready to share examples of how you've led teams and managed projects in the past. Highlight your ability to balance short- and long-term priorities effectively.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace R&D Manager - Product Development in Birmingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV speaks directly to the R&D Manager role. Highlight your experience in product development, especially in dairy or similar sectors. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about dairy product development and how you can contribute to our innovative culture. Keep it engaging and relevant to the job description.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:Since this role involves leading a team, make sure to highlight your leadership experience. Share examples of how you've coached and developed teams in the past, and how you foster collaboration and innovation.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Amcor
✨Know Your Product Development Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the latest trends and innovations in dairy product development. Brush up on your knowledge of yoghurt, desserts, and processed cheese, as well as any recent advancements in sustainability and compliance. This will show that you’re not just interested in the role but are also passionate about the industry.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams in a product development environment. Highlight your experience in coaching and mentoring, and be ready to discuss how you foster collaboration and innovation within your team. This is crucial for demonstrating that you can cultivate a high-performing culture.
✨Be Ready to Discuss Resource Management
Think about how you’ve managed resources in previous roles, especially in a matrixed organisation. Be prepared to share specific strategies you’ve used to balance short- and long-term priorities while ensuring project execution aligns with business objectives. This will illustrate your strong project management skills.
✨Engage with Customer Needs
Understand the importance of translating customer needs into viable solutions. Prepare to discuss how you’ve engaged with customers in the past and how you’ve navigated requests that weren’t feasible. This will demonstrate your ability to manage stakeholder expectations and deliver high-impact results.
