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R&D Project Manager
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R&D Project Manager
£45,000-£50,000 + 10% bonus | R&D Project Manager | Hull | Hybrid: 3 days in the office
Do you have experience delivering R&D, innovation or product-development projects within FMCG? Do you hold a bachelor's degree in science, psychology, fragrance, flavour or another relevant discipline? Can you coordinate complex technical projects across R&D, regulatory, marketing, supply chain and external suppliers? Could this be the right role for you?
This 12-month fixed-term contract will suit an R&D, product-development or technical innovation professional who enjoys bringing structure and momentum to complex projects.
You will work in a fast-paced, global matrix organisation where priorities can shift, and delivery depends on strong coordination across multiple teams. You will need to take ownership, manage ambiguity and keep stakeholders aligned without relying on formal authority.
Direct fragrance experience is preferred but not essential. Applications are welcomed from candidates with strong FMCG R&D, formulation, product-development or sensory-led consumer-product experience.
The opportunity
You will take responsibility for coordinating and delivering a portfolio of existing innovation projects across multiple consumer-product categories and global markets.
The role sits between technical development, consumer needs, commercial objectives and regulatory requirements. You will work closely with internal specialists and external development partners to ensure projects are properly scoped, supported by the right testing and documentation, and delivered against agreed milestones.
There are no direct reports, but you will need to influence technical experts, commercial stakeholders and suppliers across a complex international environment.
What you will be doing
- Managing project scope, plans, timelines, milestones, risks, dependencies and deliverables
- Coordinating activity across R&D, marketing, consumer insights, regulatory, safety, quality and supply chain
- Developing and refining innovation briefs for specialist suppliers
- Ensuring technical, consumer and regulatory requirements are clearly defined
- Working with external development partners, including fragrance and flavour houses
- Coordinating sensory, consumer and product-performance testing
- Supporting fragrance evaluation and coordinating assessment of olfactive performance during product stability
- Ensuring projects meet relevant safety, regulatory and sustainability requirements
- Preparing project updates, recommendations, presentations and technical documentation
- Identifying delays, risks and technical dependencies, then bringing together the right stakeholders to resolve them
- Maintaining momentum across international and cross-functional project teams
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What you will need
- A bachelor's degree in science, psychology, fragrance, flavour or another relevant discipline
- Experience within FMCG R&D, product development, formulation, technical innovation or a related scientific environment
- Project-management experience within a cross-functional setting
- Experience managing timelines, stakeholders, suppliers and multiple workstreams
- Strong influencing, communication, networking and relationship-management skills
- The ability to understand technical information and translate it into clear actions
- Experience working effectively within an international or matrix organisation
- An understanding of how technical innovation supports consumer and commercial objectives
- The right to work in the UK without sponsorship
Candidates with fewer than five years' formal project-management experience may still be considered where they can demonstrate strong FMCG R&D or product-development expertise.
Desirable experience
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- Fragrance evaluation, fragrance development or olfactive assessment
- Home care, air care, laundry, personal care, cosmetics or other fragrance-led products
- Sensory testing, consumer testing or product-performance evaluation
- Working with fragrance houses, flavour houses or specialist technical suppliers
- Product stability assessment
- Vendor or supplier relationship management
Why consider this role?
You will work on visible global innovation projects and gain exposure across R&D, consumer insight, regulatory, commercial teams and external technical partners.
This is an opportunity to broaden your experience across international innovation delivery and fragrance-led product development while making an immediate impact during a defined 12-month assignment.
No sponsorship or relocation offered.
Desired Skills and Experience
- Experience delivering R&D, innovation or product-development projects within FMCG, consumer products or another formulation-led environment.
- Strong project-management capability across scope, timelines, milestones, risks, dependencies and deliverables.
- Experience coordinating cross-functional teams including R&D, marketing, regulatory, safety, quality, supply chain and consumer insights.
- Able to work with external technical suppliers, development partners, fragrance houses or flavour houses.
- Scientific or technical background, ideally supported by a degree in science, psychology, fragrance, flavour or another relevant discipline.
- Strong stakeholder management, influencing and communication skills within a complex international matrix organisation.
- Experience in fragrance, sensory testing, olfactive evaluation, product stability, home care, air care, laundry, personal care or cosmetics is desirable.
- Comfortable taking ownership, managing ambiguity and maintaining delivery across multiple projects at pace.
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