Job Title: Senior R&D Manager Salary: £75,000 - £80,000 car & bonus Location: East Midlands / East Anglia Reference: (phone number removed) Our client is a leading food business who supply to a variety of the major retailers. As they continue to expand and grow their presence in the marketplace they are now seeking a driven and ambitious Senior R&D Manager to join their business. About the Role: This hands-on position will lead end-to-end cost savings programs, from ideation to commercialisation, working collaboratively across internal teams, vendors, manufacturing sites, and third-party providers Responsibilities include but are not limited to: Identify opportunities for cost savings by analysing ingredient functionality, recipes, product design, and manufacturing processes to drive material and efficiency gains. Lead the development of cost savings initiatives, including formulation, prototyping, pilot trials, shelf-life studies, and consumer sensory testing. Collaborate with Packaging R&D teams to ensure product/package compatibility, providing technical and specification support through commercialisation. Manage the implementation of cost savings projects, partnering with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless execution and ongoing production success. Charter and lead cross-functional project teams, effectively managing risks, budgets, and timelines to deliver impactful outcomes. Analyse project data, validate test results, and recommend actionable solutions to maximise the ROI of the cost savings portfolio. Oversee specification development, documentation for certifying body approvals (eg organic), and adherence to regulatory requirements. Manage and develop a team of managers, scientists, and engineers, fostering growth and leveraging internal and external partnerships to achieve team goals. Serve as the technical liaison for cost savings initiatives, reporting progress to leadership and ensuring alignment with strategic goals. Perform hands-on activities, from prototyping and plant trials to coordinating material readiness, delivering results from ideation to launch. About you: Experience in an innovation or R&D role in the food industry is required Innovation, P&L and design experience are highly advantageous Flexibility to travel to multiple sites If you believe you have the skills and personality to fit these requirements please either apply via this advert or call Henderson Brown on (phone number removed) for more information