R&D Manager

The Adecco Group is the world’s leading provider of human resource solutions and a Global Fortune 500 company. At Adecco, we daily connect more than 700,000 people from 60 countries around the world with work opportunities with our clients - leading employers from various industries. But our goal goes beyond just finding new jobs for the people - our goal is to help you find a fulfilling job, the perfect match for you, a position in which you will do what you love. Currently, for one of our trusted clients we are looking for R&D Manager.

Key Accountabilities

R&D Management:

• Define and adapt R&D organization to business needs; optimize resources for agility.
• Lead R&D team: recruit, onboard, train, and develop talent.
• Align R&D objectives with group vision and local business plans.
• Innovation, Customer Projects & Technical Support:
• Manage innovation pipeline, aligned with group strategy and customer needs, ensuring compliance with local regulations.
• Drive the development of strategic and international products/services, ensuring market relevance and training for R&D, CTS, MKT, and Sales teams.
• Lead customer projects, ensuring R&D and Application Specialists engage directly with customers.
• Organize internal product trainings for business development and operations teams.
• Foster competence-building initiatives and explore new business and innovation opportunities.
• Ensure confidentiality and adhere to IP protection rules.
• Support digital tools adoption and process automation.

Profitability & Operations Support:

• Assist in the implementation of new ingredients/products in production, process improvements, and supplier approvals.
• Collaborate to reduce product/service costs and optimize raw materials and finished goods.
• Support external quality audits and ensure traceable R&D documentation.
• Stakeholder Management:
• Contribute to local management objectives and projects.
• Build strong networks with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring smooth implementation and accelerated market entry.
• Cultivate relationships with key customers, suppliers, research institutes, and local authorities.

Competences & Personal Qualities:

• Expertise in R&D, scientific curiosity, and digital knowledge.
• Inspiring leader with strong customer orientation and commercial drive.
• Ability to translate business strategies into R&D strategies.
• Strong project management and networking skills.
• Ambitious, self-driven, and dynamic with an international mindset.

Professional Experience & Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in food science or equivalent.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in R&D within the international food industry, with 3+ years in a leadership role.
• Experience in bakery, patisserie, or chocolate industry a plus.
• Knowledge of food regulations.
• Fluent in English.
• Expected to travel frequently in the region and occasionally to HQ in Belgium. Spend 30% of time with customers.