R&D Project Manager

An experienced R&D Project Manager is required by our client a leading global supplier of ingredients and premix manufacturing solutions for the food and beverage industry. The role is responsible for leading customer driven New Product Development projects across Sports Nutrition, Pre-Mix, and other turnkey product solutions, managing them from scoping through to implementation with a strong focus on technical work-streams and robust delivery. Working within the Innovation Team, the successful candidate will form and lead cross-functional teams spanning Operations, Quality, Regulatory, Marketing, and Finance, collaborating closely with commercial leads to ensure projects are delivered right the first time. The position calls for a flexible, hands-on, and solution focused approach, excellent communication skills, and the ability to mentor Product Developers and Formulation Scientists in Project Management best practices. What to expect from the role:

• Lead and manage multiple NPD Projects in parallel from scoping and kick off through to implementation in their own manufacturing facility of via third party co packers in adherence with governance process.
• Management of the Active Lifestyle project portfolio which includes providing weekly status updates for all live projects in the portfolio.
• Manage the packaging technical work-stream for all Active Lifestyle Nutrition projects. which involves sourcing off the shelf packaging formats that meet the customer brief, managing packaging approval with Supplier Quality Assurance, running trials with production to assure that the packaging can be run on the production lines.
• Completing fill and scoop tests whilst developing a method to make this process less manual.
• Assure that all projects that you will be responsible for delivering are robustly scoped and reviewed against the agreed commercial/strategic criteria to confirm GO/NO GO decision.
• Lead cross functional project kick off meetings and core project team meetings which should take place either weekly or fortnightly depending on the pace and complexity of the project.
• Complete risk sessions for each project with the core project team building a risk log and mitigation plan. Assure that the project risk log is maintained and updated on a fortnightly basis over the project life cycle.
• Create project time-lines with inputs from wider cross functional team hold session to confirm project time-line with the team and review critical path. Assure that the project team are bought in and committed to the delivery of the agreed project time-line.
• Assure that outputs, actions and decisions are accurately and effectively documented and cascaded in a timely manner post project meetings.
• Assure that the project team(s) are held accountable for project delivery.
• Provide weekly updates as to project progress outlining any risks and the agreed mitigation.

Must be educated to Degree level in a relevant Science or Business discipline and ideally a relevant project management qualification including Prince 2, PMI or Chartership. Must also be able to reference and demonstrate relevant Project Management experience. At least 3 years experience in a similar role. Based in Kent on a hybrid basis.