R&D Manager (Process)

Company Description At Valeo Foods UK we bring together a family of much-loved UK food brands supported by the scale and ambition of a global investment partner. From Kettle’s bold crunch to Rowse’s natural sweetness, through to Matthew Walker and Barratt Sweets, our portfolio blends heritage, craft and category-leading innovation.

Alongside our branded portfolio, we are also one of the UK’s largest suppliers of private label products, partnering with major retailers to deliver quality and category expertise that meets the needs of millions of households every week.

As a business, we’re on a journey of transformation. We’re strengthening our operations, driving quality and investing in our people. It’s an exciting, fast-moving environment where heritage meets new thinking, and where every colleague contributes to shaping the future of food across the UK.

Join us and play your part in building the next chapter of some of Britain’s most loved brands.

Job Description We are looking for a R&D Manager (Process) to be based at our Matthew Walker Factory to lead the end to end development of new bakery products, raw materials and processes, ensuring right‑first‑time delivery to agreed critical paths. The role strengthens strategic customer partnerships, drives innovation, and ensures scientific and technical excellence across pilot plant and factory environments.

• Lead product development projects from concept through post‑launch, ensuring on‑time, in‑full delivery.
• Act as primary technical contact for customer developers, nurturing, collaborative and dynamic relationships.
• Prepare and deliver trial review presentations, manage pre-productions, and attend launch visits.
• Build subject‑matter expertise in bakery technology and trends.
• Engage suppliers to identify product, ingredient, and technology opportunities.
• Maintain accurate, auditable project documentation and trackers.
• Provide clear, consistent project updates to all stakeholders.
• Deputise when required.
• Line‑manage, coach and develop Technologists/Technicians.
• Drive continuous improvement of procedures, documentation, and ways of working.

Qualifications

• Strong passion for food and innovation.
• Clear and confident communication skills (written, verbal and presentations).
• Ability to collaborate effectively across all organisational levels.
• High attention to detail, strong organisation and forward‑thinking mindset.
• Commercially aware and comfortable with data and numbers.
• Demonstrates agility, resilience and capacity to create and embrace change.
• Experience in food manufacturing, ideally NPD or R&D.
• Understanding of food process technologies
• Experience engaging cross‑functionally and with external stakeholders.
• Competent in MS Office: Excel, Word, PowerPoint.
• Full UK clean driving license.

Additional Information What we offer you in return

• Matched pension scheme
• Death in service
• Cycle to work scheme
• Canteen
• Retailer discount platform
• Staff discount
• And plenty more!