Research & Development Director – Food Processing Machinery

Job Title:	Research & Development Director	Posted: 18/05/10
Job Location:	UK based	Ref FRL277
Salary:	c£80,000 + benefits	Apply Now

Our client is a leading provider of processing solutions for use within the global food industry. A multinational company with over 3500 employees they have an extensive sales and service network worldwide.

The Research & Development Director will report to the Managing Director UK and work closely with other functional leaders in the company including sales, service, finance, marketing and engineering.

The position has direct responsibility for a team of site based personnel and takes ownership for all of the sites product development activities.

Integral to the success of the role will be an in depth and up to date knowledge of processing solutions offered to the food industry (ideally protein) throughout Europe.

The successful candidate will be passionate about the challenge ahead and will have a dynamic and creative approach to new product development with the ability to identify and exploit a niche in the market place whilst remaining profitable.

This is a customer facing role with extensive international travel and will require a strong commercial approach and an understanding of product management and key account management principles.

It will work in partnership with key accounts to gain insight into ongoing customer requirements to consistently deliver a competitive edge and develop the appropriate technologies or existing product modifications to deliver against these needs.

The position will work very closely with internal and external sales and marketing teams to ensure competitive product positioning and pricing strategies for all product modifications and new product launches.

Responsibilities

• Implement clear departmental processes and procedures in order to technically plan, interpret, organise, execute and coordinate all R & D projects in line with company strategy.
• Effectively manage and give direction to a multi disciplined team of engineers, regularly evaluating performance against pre agreed team targets and recommending changes required to ensure objectives are met.
• Work as part of a global R & D management team to standardise technologies, ensure best practice and push the boundaries of new product development initiatives.
• Conceptualise, architect and document the company’s product platforms and next generation products in line with customer requirements and market trends.

Requirements

• Degree level education is a minimum requirement with an engineering and technical content, this will ideally be supported by a post graduate business qualification.
• An in depth knowledge of food manufacturers and food processing technologies.
• Effectively work with internal company functions on all customer account issues to ensure best practice.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills coupled with strong operational, project management and product management experience.
• Top class negotiation skills and the ability to build relationships with an international customer base across all levels of an organisation.
• Demonstrable track record of team building and leadership skills coupled with marketing, business and technical ability.

Please apply in confidence with a CV and full salary details to Anthony Birks quoting ref FRL277

Apply now