R&D Lead; Product Formulation

Recruiter @ Seven Search and Selection Ltd | Specialising in Retail & FMCG

Direct message the job poster from Seven Search and Selection Ltd

• A global leader in ingredient solutions, supporting innovation across food, beverage, and sports nutrition markets.
• Driving growth through strategic partnerships with retailers, manufacturers, and health-focused brands.
• Renowned for high‑quality, functional ingredients that help brands meet evolving consumer needs.

• The R&D Lead (Product Formulation) is responsible for leading and growing the R&D department who are responsible for formulating, scaling and manufacturing nutritional premixes and sports nutrition products across powders, RTM and RTD‑support formats.
• Own the full product value chain end to end, from concept to commercialisation, ensuring compliance with regulatory, quality, safety and commercial requirements.
• Manage and develop the R&D Product Formulation team, building capability, driving performance and strengthening succession pipelines.
• The R&D Lead (Product Formulation) is responsible for defining and executing the departmental strategy aligned to NPD, margin, customer satisfaction and category growth goals.
• As R&D Lead (Product Formulation) you will oversee science‑based formulation of premixes, functional blends and sports nutrition products, ensuring efficacy, stability, sensory quality and commercial viability.
• You will approve product specifications and ensure team expertise in functional ingredients, regulatory changes, raw‑material optimisation and dual sourcing.
• The R&D Lead (Product Formulation) will provide technical leadership for customer briefs, presentations, scoping, costing and on‑time launch delivery, ensuring right‑first‑time development.
• Support commercial, quality and production teams with technical service, compliance projects and raw‑material qualification.
• Degree‑qualified: BSc/MSc in Food Science, Nutrition, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, or Chemical/Process Engineering (or relevant).
• Experience in food or nutrition manufacturing, including experience in people leadership and cross‑functional stakeholder management.
• Direct experience in an R&D leadership role in premix formulation, including vitamins, minerals, amino acids, botanicals and probiotics (any food and beverage raw materials).
• Strong background in sports nutrition, covering whey and plant proteins, BCAA/EAA, creatine, electrolytes and pre‑workout products will be highly beneficial.
• Technical expertise in powder technologies, such as blending, segregation/flowability management, hygroscopic ingredients, encapsulation, granulation, milling and sieving.
• Proven ability to design science‑based formulations, applying data‑driven principles to create high‑performing products.
• Sound sensory understanding, including flavour and sweetener systems, masking strategies and texture optimisation for both RTM and RTD formats.

• Pension
• Hybrid Working 3 days on site, 2 days’ work from home (Remote option for candidates located more than 1.5hrs away from Kent/London)
• Subsidised Gym membership

Please send your CV using the form on this page, quoting reference 16/17557/7. Confidentiality assured.

Whilst we would like to respond to all our on‑line applicants, regrettably we are unable to do so due to the high volumes we receive. If you do not hear back within 14 days unfortunately the relevant consultant has decided not to progress with your application. For alternative opportunities please search our vacancies on our website.

Seven Search & Selection Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary (interim) workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C’s, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found on our website.

Mid‑Senior level

Full‑time

Production and Product Management

Food and Beverage Manufacturing, Food and Beverage Retail, and Wholesale Food and Beverage

Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Seven Search and Selection Ltd by 2x