R&D Project Manager

Position Overview

We're looking for a sharp, business-minded
R&D Project Manager
to bridge the gap between innovation and commercial success. This isn't a traditional lab role—it's about turning creative concepts into profitable products, on time and on budget. You'll own the entire project lifecycle from brief to launch, keeping cross-functional teams aligned and accountable while ensuring every new product hits our GP1 targets and business objectives.

If you thrive on momentum, love the challenge of juggling multiple priorities, and want to see your projects actually make it to market (and succeed there), this role is for you.

Key Responsibilities

Project Ownership & Commercial Execution

• Own end-to-end project delivery from brief to launch—you're accountable for timelines, budgets, and profitability outcomes
• Drive projects to meet GP1 targets and commercial viability from day one; no concepts move forward without a clear path to profit
• Develop realistic project plans with milestones, critical paths, and contingency strategies
• Track and report on project performance: on-time delivery rates, cost efficiency, sampling rounds, and launch success metrics
• Flag risks early and pivot quickly—you're the person who keeps projects from stalling or spiraling

Cross-Functional Coordination & Stakeholder Management

• Serve as the central point of contact across R&D, QA, Commercial, Brand, Operations, and Supply Chain
• Translate commercial briefs and brand vision into actionable R&D deliverables, ensuring alignment at every stage
• Facilitate decision-making across teams—you're the conductor keeping everyone in sync
• Manage upward: provide clear, concise updates to senior management with actionable insights and recommendations
• Push for efficiency: reduce sampling rounds, streamline approval processes, and eliminate unnecessary loops

Product Development Support (Commercial Lens)

• Partner with the Head of R&D to guide flavour development with a strong commercial filter—market relevance, cost, scalability
• Support kitchen work as needed, but your primary focus is on project flow, not recipe tweaking
• Evaluate prototypes against commercial criteria: consumer appeal, production feasibility, margin targets, competitive positioning
• Work with Operations to ensure seamless scale-up, production readiness, and supply chain alignment
• Support QA coordination to ensure compliance, food safety, and regulatory requirements are baked into timelines

Performance & Continuous Improvement

• Establish and monitor success metrics: on-time launch %, project ROI, sampling efficiency, time-to-market
• Conduct post-launch reviews to identify wins, gaps, and areas for process improvement
• Build and refine project management frameworks, templates, and best practices for the R&D function
• Champion a culture of accountability, speed, and commercial focus across the innovation pipeline

What Success Looks Like in This Role

90%+ on-time project delivery to agreed launch dates

Products launch within GP1 target ranges consistently

Reduction in sampling rounds by improving brief clarity and stakeholder alignment

Smooth cross-functional collaboration with minimal friction or delays

Clear, predictable innovation pipeline that Commercial and Brand teams can rely on

Required Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Business, Project Management, or related field
• Minimum 5 years in food product development or innovation project management
• At least 2-3 years in the snack food or FMCG industry preferred
• Proven track record of managing projects from concept to successful commercial launch
• Experience working in fast-paced, entrepreneurial, or growth-stage businesses is a plus

Technical & Commercial Skills

• Strong understanding of food product development processes, but with a commercial and operational mindset
• Excellent project management skills—ability to manage multiple concurrent projects with competing priorities
• Comfortable with costing, margin analysis, and profitability assessments
• Knowledge of food safety, Halal certification, and regulatory requirements
• Proficiency in project management tools MS Office/Google Workspace

Soft Skills & Mindset

• Business-savvy and commercially driven—you understand that innovation must deliver ROI
• Exceptional organizational skills and ability to manage complexity without losing momentum
• Strong communicator who can translate between technical teams and commercial stakeholders
• Proactive problem-solver who anticipates roadblocks and takes ownership of solutions
• Thrives in ambiguity and fast-paced environments—comfortable making decisions with imperfect information
• Detail-oriented yet able to see the big picture and keep projects strategically aligned
• Not precious about process—focused on outcomes, speed, and impact

What We Offer

• High-impact role where you'll directly influence the success of our innovation pipeline
• Opportunity to shape processes, build systems, and grow with a dynamic, ambitious brand
• Collaborative, energetic team culture that values hustle, creativity, and smart execution
• Competitive salary package with performance incentives tied to project success
• Professional development and career growth in a fast-moving FMCG environment