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- Tasks: Lead R&D in formulating and scaling innovative nutritional products.
- Company: Join a global leader in ingredient solutions for food and sports nutrition.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, pension, and subsidised gym membership.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the fast-paced world of nutrition and health.
- Qualifications: Degree in Food Science or related field; R&D leadership experience required.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for career growth and innovation.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Our client is a global leader in ingredient solutions, supporting innovation across food, beverage, and sports nutrition markets. They drive growth through strategic partnerships with retailers, manufacturers, and health-focused brands, and are renowned for high-quality, functional ingredients that help brands meet evolving consumer needs.
The R&D Lead (Product Formulation) is responsible for leading and growing the R&D department, which formulates, scales, and manufactures nutritional premixes and sports nutrition products across powders, RTM, and RTD-support formats. Key responsibilities include:
- Owning the full product value chain from concept to commercialisation, ensuring compliance with regulatory, quality, safety, and commercial requirements.
- Managing and developing the R&D Product Formulation team, building capability, driving performance, and strengthening succession pipelines.
- Defining and executing the departmental strategy aligned to NPD, margin, customer satisfaction, and category growth goals.
- Overseeing science-based formulation of premixes, functional blends, and sports nutrition products, ensuring efficacy, stability, sensory quality, and commercial viability.
- Approving product specifications and ensuring team expertise in functional ingredients, regulatory changes, raw-material optimisation, and dual sourcing.
- Providing technical leadership for customer briefs, presentations, scoping, costing, and on-time launch delivery, ensuring right-first-time development.
- Supporting commercial, quality, and production teams with technical service, compliance projects, and raw-material qualification.
Qualifications include:
- Degree-qualified: BSc/MSc in Food Science, Nutrition, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, or Chemical/Process Engineering (or relevant).
- Experience in food or nutrition manufacturing, including people leadership and cross-functional stakeholder management.
- Direct experience in an R&D leadership role in premix formulation, including vitamins, minerals, amino acids, botanicals, and probiotics.
- Strong background in sports nutrition, covering whey and plant proteins, BCAA/EAA, creatine, electrolytes, and pre-workout products.
- Technical expertise in powder technologies, such as blending, segregation/flowability management, hygroscopic ingredients, encapsulation, granulation, milling, and sieving.
- Proven ability to design science-based formulations, applying data-driven principles to create high-performing products.
- Sound sensory understanding, including flavour and sweetener systems, masking strategies, and texture optimisation for both RTM and RTD formats.
Benefits include:
- Pension
- Hybrid Working: 3 days on site, 2 days’ work from home (Remote option for candidates located more than 1.5hrs away from Kent/London)
- Subsidised Gym membership
Please send your CV using the form on this page, quoting reference 16/17557/7. Confidentiality assured. If you do not hear back within 14 days, unfortunately, the relevant consultant has decided not to progress with your application.
Seven Search & Selection Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary (interim) workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C’s, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers which can be found on our website.
Seniority level: Mid-Senior level
Employment type: Full-time
Job function: Production and Product Management
Industries: Food and Beverage Manufacturing, Food and Beverage Retail, and Wholesale Food and Beverage
R&D Lead (Product Formulation) in London employer: Seven Search and Selection Ltd
Contact Detail:
Seven Search and Selection Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land R&D Lead (Product Formulation) in London
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with people in the industry! Attend events, join relevant groups on LinkedIn, and don’t be shy about reaching out to folks at companies you admire. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Show Off Your Expertise
When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, make sure to highlight your experience in R&D and product formulation. Share specific examples of how you've led teams or developed successful products. This is your time to shine and show them why you're the perfect fit!
✨Follow Up Like a Boss
After any interview or networking event, send a quick thank-you note. It shows your appreciation and keeps you fresh in their minds. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to reiterate your interest in the role and remind them of your key strengths.
✨Apply Through Our Website
Don’t forget to apply through our website for the best chance at landing that R&D Lead position! We’re all about making connections and helping you find the right fit, so take advantage of the resources we offer to boost your application.
We think you need these skills to ace R&D Lead (Product Formulation) in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the R&D Lead role. Highlight your experience in product formulation and any leadership roles you've held. We want to see how your background aligns with our needs!
Showcase Your Technical Skills: Don’t forget to showcase your technical expertise in areas like powder technologies and sensory understanding. We’re looking for someone who can hit the ground running, so let us know what you bring to the table!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about this role and how your experience makes you the perfect fit. We love seeing enthusiasm and a clear connection to our mission.
Apply Through Our Website: Remember to apply through our website using the form provided. It helps us keep everything organised and ensures your application gets the attention it deserves. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Seven Search and Selection Ltd
✨Know Your Ingredients
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of functional ingredients, especially those relevant to sports nutrition. Be ready to discuss how different vitamins, minerals, and proteins can impact product formulation and consumer needs.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As an R&D Lead, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to manage and develop a team. Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams in the past, focusing on building capability and driving performance.
✨Understand the Full Product Lifecycle
Familiarise yourself with the entire product value chain from concept to commercialisation. Be prepared to discuss how you ensure compliance with regulatory and quality standards while also meeting customer satisfaction and growth goals.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect to face technical questions related to powder technologies and formulation strategies. Brush up on your knowledge of blending, encapsulation, and sensory optimisation to confidently tackle these queries during the interview.
