R&D Project Manager - County Kildare

R&D Project Manager - County Kildare.

Our client seeks an R&D Project Manager to join the Science & Innovation Department. The successful candidate for this role will be responsible for the end-to-end execution of R&D projects and other support activities, contributing to the continued growth of the business in its chosen innovation platforms and related markets. Ensuring the innovation process is used appropriately to deliver the agreed targets set by the business, having a passion for R&D, an in-depth knowledge within the areas of Food Science, Chemistry, Nutrition, and up to date industry insights and relevant technologies are all considered important to this role.

Key Duties & Responsibilities
• Manages R&D project through the Innovation Process to achieve milestone delivery and scoped technical advances. Ensures team visibility on active and upcoming projects to allow appropriate resource allocation.
• Identifies, tracks, and mitigates risks with particular attention to critical path activities.
• Provides regular updates to R&D Innovation Platform Lead to assess the technical advances achieved and continuously re-align projects on timeline and platform strategy.
• Collaborates with R&D Innovation Platform Lead to manage and maintain an active innovation pipeline by providing knowledge/research-based recommendations and risk management.
• Ensures necessary and appropriate team participation by all functions in planning and project execution.
• Works closely with R&D Technologist to design, conduct, and review experimentation/trials.
• Reviews literature and documents the state of the art relevant to R&D projects. Actively participates in the Discover phase activities of the R&D Innovation process including White Paper drafting and idea challenges. Applies and further advances scientific knowledge to develop innovative products and technologies.
• Evaluates project progress and communicate project updates to drive project decisions during Develop phase.
• Works with R&D Innovation Platform Leads and R&D Portfolio Manager in addition to other cross-functional teams to drive the Deliver phase of the R&D projects.
• Advises and guides other S&I team members and other departments across the site on scientific/technical matters related to R&D projects and innovation platforms.

Interested applicants should have:
• M.Sc. or PhD in Food Science, Food Chemistry, or other related field.
• At least 3 years' industrial experience in the food industry.
Focused experience in sensory analysis, food manufacturing, or meat processing is desired.
• Proven track record of product or technology innovations in a related field.
• Excellent project management skills with ability to prioritise multiple activities simultaneously.
• The successful candidate will be highly motivated and eager to learn, with the ability to deliver insights to inform research questions and to translate scientific findings into business opportunities.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to build constructive relationships with internal clients and outside suppliers.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office programs and other digital technologies.
Experience in Unscrabbler, MATLAB or other Statistical/Data analysis software is a plus.