R&D Project Manager - Food Industry

The selected person will lead, with a technical and strategic profile, the development of new products, the improvement of their formulations, and industrialization in conjunction with other areas, specifically driving the planning (milestones, resources, validations) and execution of the project from the initial idea to market launch.

• Lead the management and execution of food R&D projects
• Important food industrial company immersed in a development process

Reporting to the Company Management, and as part of the R&D area, the selected person will lead, with a technical and strategic profile, the development of new products, the improvement of their formulations, and industrialization in conjunction with other areas, specifically driving the planning (milestones, resources, validations) and execution of the project from the initial idea to market launch. To this end, their main functions will be:

• End-to-End product development, collaborating closely with the R&D team, with a significant focus on proprietary innovation (formulations, improvements, cost savings, etc.), analyzing all relevant parameters of the product life cycle up to its industrial scaling and market testing
• Product development and optimization: designing new references, improving current products, with a special focus on the development of recipes/formulations
• Industrialization: in coordination especially with the Production and Quality areas, managing that the transition from pilot testing to large-scale manufacturing is executed effectively
• Evaluate and select suppliers of raw materials, additives, equipment, etc., in collaboration with other areas of the company, to ensure compliance with defined objectives
• Market validation: supervise and execute all validation phases (tasting panels, consumer tests, physicochemical and microbiological analyses, etc).
• Full project management, specifically driving the technical part and the more general project management aspects (planning, milestone definition, collaborators, timelines, deliverables...), ensuring correct execution, and defining action plans with the project team and with Management whenever appropriate
• Define the scope, tasks, and deadlines of each project to facilitate its execution, collaborating closely with the other departments involved
• As a reference and the person responsible for its monitoring and execution, act as a link between Purchasing, MKT, Quality, Operations, Finance, or Commercial in everything related to the project
• Perform the necessary reports to Management, regarding both the status of the project in its various areas and the detection of deviation or improvement points, to work on action plans accordingly and on time.
• Involve, coordinate, and communicate everything related to the project clearly and effectively to the people involved.
• Identify possible deviations in deadlines or activities and propose monitoring measures.
• Contribute to the correct prioritization of technical initiatives within the area.
• Ensure compliance with all regulations, standards, and certifications (Food Quality and Safety, Sustainability, OSH, Environment)

• University technical training in Food Science and Technology, Nutrition, Chemical Engineering, or related degrees; Master's degrees in Food Innovation, Project Management, or Bioeconomy are highly valued
• Proven experience in project management in food industrial environments or similar, where proprietary products have been developed and the project has been managed through all its phases
• Technical knowledge of food product formulation and development, of its project phases, and its subsequent industrial scale introduction and validation
• Practical knowledge of the usual phases of an industrial R&D project
• Ability to organize, define tasks, deadlines, and work priorities, collaborate and lead project teams, as well as problem-solving and effective communication
• Availability to work daily in Urola Kosta