The R&D Manager will lead a technical team with global responsibility to support the development of new products and technologies and enhance current products in line with the category strategy for the global Personal Care liquids vertical.

He/she will be responsible for development of his/her team, management of resources, project planning & stakeholder management.

Responsibilities:

• Lead a technical team with global responsibility to deliver product development projects for the Liquids format (new and enhancements to current products) to market in line in line with Category Strategy.
• Work closely with Marketing, Manufacturing, and key functional groups to advance initiatives successfully through the product development process.
• Contribute to the Category Innovation process and support the implementation of a technology strategy to underpin long term Category pipeline development
• Work with Category Management to develop clear Project Development Briefs.
• Following approval of Project Briefs, to be accountable for:

1. the achievement of project development milestones and objectives.
2. liaison and motivation of the appropriate RB functions and external resources to ensure completion of all activities to plan.
3. the timely completion of specifications, support data and generation of the Technical Dossiers for project handover.
4. The management the interface with Regional Laboratories/Supply to ensure "seamless" project handover to manufacturing, launch to the market and subsequent roll out.

• Allocation of resources within the team to meet agreed project objectives and timelines within the Category strategy.
• Develop sound commercial knowledge and a close relationship with the Category Team(s) to understand needs ensuring the development team is responsive to business needs.
• Build a cohesive, motivated, and professional team within a results-oriented culture, where personal responsibility/initiative, teamwork, and mutual respect are key.
• Be responsible for the development of his/her team members to enable them to achieve their full potential.
• Recruit team members to ensure strengthening of the bench.
• Responsible for ensuring that all development activity within the team conforms with legislative, Health and Safety and environmental requirements.
• Provide support to other internal functions as required.
• Proactively track and respond to competitor threats by:

1. understanding their development activities
2. advising Category Team(s) and the business of competitor threats
3. identifying technical solutions in response to such threats

Requirements:

• 10+ years' experience within FMCG company running a small development team and technical expertise in Personal Care liquids formulations.
• Experience with recruitment, management, and development of people.
• Results oriented, entrepreneurial and self-motivated, with solid planning and organisational capabilities, a bias for action, and the capability to define, evaluate and take risks.
• Good leadership, motivational and interpersonal skills.
• Global mindset, commercial understanding of corporate and operational business issues.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to think strategically, develop tactics and measurable implementation plans and able to transform solid thinking into action.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Strong intellectual curiosity with an appetite for exploring new and previously uncharted territories and an openness to change and ability to think out of the box.
• Proven ability to work under pressure without compromising on deliverables.