R&D Category Manager - Consumer Foods

About the Role:

We are seeking an experienced and commercially minded R&D Category Manager to lead the R&D team responsible for the Consumer Food portfolio. Reporting into the VP of R&D, this role will provide clear category ownership across consumer food R&D platforms, ensuring the development pipeline is grounded in consumer and customer insight, manufacturing capability, cost drivers and strategic business needs. The successful candidate will lead the translation of innovation and renovation pipelines into practical, scalable and commercially viable solutions, ensuring innovation activity is prioritised based on strategic business value, customer impact and growth potential. The role will work closely with Front-End Innovation, Food Science, Nutrition Science, Packaging, NPI, Operations, Quality, Regulatory, Marketing, Commercial, Business Development and external partners to build a high-quality, science-led innovation pipeline for the Consumer Food portfolio.

You will play a pivotal leadership role in shaping the future of Consumer Food innovation within Kinisla's evolving R&D operating model. Working across a portfolio of leading dairy brands and growth platforms, you will connect science, consumer insight, manufacturing capability and commercial strategy to deliver impactful innovation. This role offers the opportunity to build and lead a focused, empowered and future-ready R&D function, driving clear ownership, strong governance and the capacity needed to accelerate innovation and business growth.

What will I be doing?

• Provide strategic R&D category leadership for the Consumer Food portfolio, driving innovation priorities, portfolio decisions and long-term category growth, including Butter spreads, Snacking, Dairy Innovation and growth platforms, and relevant cross-category initiatives.
• Develop long-term category innovation plans grounded in consumer and customer insight, market trends, cost drivers, manufacturing capability and strategic business priorities.
• Own and govern the R&D project portfolio for the category, ensuring priorities, resources, timelines and risks are visible and aligned with business value.
• Act as the critical link between Front-End Innovation and execution teams, translating emerging science, consumer insights and technology opportunities into commercially viable, scalable product and process solutions.
• Partner with Marketing, Commercial, Business Development and customer-facing teams to shape briefs, support customer workshops and identify new growth opportunities.
• Collaborate with NPI, Operations, Quality, Regulatory and Supply Chain to ensure products are developed for manufacturability, food safety, quality, regulatory compliance and robust launch execution.
• Build strong supplier, customer, Third Party Manufacturing and external partner relationships to support technology scouting, product development, capability building and accelerated execution.
• Drive clear role boundaries, decision rights and handoffs across categories, sites and functions to improve speed, accountability and project flow.
• Champion portfolio discipline, including project prioritisation, stage-gate governance, KPI tracking, business readiness and regular communication of project status.
• Coach and support R&D platform leads and technologists, helping build a high-performing, agile and empowered Consumer Food R&D team.

What do I need to be successful?

At Kinisla, we understand that people have very different career trajectories and experiences. In order to be successful in this role we would be looking for the right competencies and aptitudes as well as your proven track record of success in a similar role and environment.  

These include:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Food Science, Dairy Technology, Food Engineering, Nutrition, or a related technical discipline.
• Minimum of 7 years’ experience in R&D, product development, technical category management or innovation leadership within dairy, chilled foods, snacking, spreads, cheese, or broader consumer foods.
• Proven ability to translate consumer, customer and market insight into commercially relevant product and process development pipelines.
• Strong understanding of food formulation, processing, scale-up, sensory quality, shelf-life, packaging and manufacturing constraints.
• Experience leading cross-functional projects with Marketing, Commercial, Operations, Quality, Regulatory, Supply Chain and external partners.
• Strong project and portfolio management skills, including prioritisation, governance, risk management, stakeholder communication and delivery discipline.
• Commercial awareness, with the ability to balance consumer desirability, technical feasibility, manufacturability and business value.
• Excellent leadership, influencing, communication and coaching skills, with the ability to work effectively across sites and functions.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience leading innovation across consumer dairy foods such as Butter spreads, cheese, snacking, spreads or adjacent growth platforms
• Experience building category roadmaps, innovation pipelines, customer workshop content or technical selling materials.
• Knowledge of stage-gate governance, portfolio management tools, KPI reporting and R&D project tracking systems.
• Exposure to TPM development, supplier scouting, external collaboration, technology landscaping or open innovation.
• Understanding of nutrition, sustainability, packaging, cost optimisation and manufacturing improvement opportunities in consumer food portfolios.

What will I get in return?

At Kinisla, we believe in giving talented, curious people the opportunity to make a difference. We work as a team, searching for the best ways to inspire and lead the evolution of dairy food and nutrition. We are a community of innovators, working across disciplines to solve global food challenges with a fresh approach. We want you to achieve whatever you put your mind to.

We also offer:

• 25 days annual leave (excluding bank holidays).
• Health Care Allowance.
• Matched pension scheme up to 10% Employer Contribution.
• Benefits platform offering discounts and cashback on major retailers.
• Employee Assistance Policy.

About Kinisla

Kinisla is a vertically integrated farm-to-fork business with a very substantial consumer foods presence and a leading nutritional and dairy ingredients division, delivering high-quality dairy solutions with a focus on sustainability and innovation. From partnering with local family farms to producing world-class dairy products, we ensure every step of our value chain reflects our commitment to excellence.

With over 50 years’ experience in milk processing, dairy and nutritional technology advancement, and product innovation, we are a key stakeholder in the global food industry and creators of a strong portfolio of market leading dairy brands including Cheestrings, Charleville and Coleraine Cheese, Dairygold, Golden Cow and our new SMUG range. Our from food, for food culture and deep-rooted connection to our 2,800 milk suppliers differentiates our business and offers captivating opportunities for our customers and consumers.

Our dairy comes from some of the world’s richest grazing land and is produced by a network of Irish family farms that have one of the lowest carbon footprints in the world. Through a combination of expertise, innovation, and sustainability, Kinisla is proud to shape the future of dairy while meeting the diverse needs of our farmers, customers, and communities. 

Headquartered in Tralee, Co. Kerry, we operate multiple manufacturing facilities in the southwest of Ireland, including Listowel, Charleville, Newmarket, and Farranfore. Additionally, we manage 28 Farm & Home stores throughout the region, ensuring comprehensive coverage and service. In Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom, our presence extends to key locations in Portadown, Coleraine, and Ossett.

Globally, Kinisla employs over 1,700 dedicated professionals across Ireland, Northern Ireland, the UK, USA, Netherlands, Spain, Germany, and China. In 2024, we achieved a turnover of approximately €1.3 billion, reflecting our commitment to excellence and growth.

Get in touch today!

At Kinisla, we benefit from the knowledge of our colleagues who bring a diverse range of cultures, backgrounds, lifestyles and experiences. One team fostering an inclusive culture that, above all, inspires food and nourishes life. One culture where everyone brings their unique perspectives and experiences to help make us better, together. We are committed to nurturing an environment of positivity and inclusiveness, where everyone can be at their best, both personally and professionally.

Our recruitment, selection and assessment process are based on the skills and competencies of the specific roles and based entirely on merit. We are committed to and value Diversity and Inclusion in all recruitment processes within Kinisla and do not discriminate based on gender, race, class, economic status, ethnic background, sexual orientation, age, political beliefs, veteran status, marital status or any other protected characteristic.

Please note: We do not accept CVs or candidate profiles from recruitment agencies where Kinisla terms of business have not been signed. Additionally, we will not consider or agree to payment of any recruiter fee under these circumstances. This also applies to CVs or candidate profiles sent directly to any Kinisla Hiring Managers.