Regional R&D Manager CEE

Key responsibilites :

Product development leadership: Lead the local R&D team of product developers to deliver new products, reformulations, and product improvements in line with market needs, commercial priorities, and the central R&D roadmap 

Innovation & NPD pipeline: Build and manage a robust innovation pipeline combining locally driven initiatives with projects steered by central R&D. Coordinate prioritization and resource allocation to maximize time-to-market and commercial impact 

Cost optimization: Identify and implement ingredient and process optimization opportunities to reduce product costs while maintaining or improving quality 

People leadership: Develop and coach the local R&D team, foster a culture of innovation and accountability, and ensure effective knowledge transfer across the organization 

Stakeholder management: Collaborate closely with Commercial, Marketing, Manufacturing, Supply Chain and the Bakery Products Business Line. Support commercial team during customers’ meetings. Act as the regional technical partner in customer co-development initiatives and work with the central R&D team on shared projects and knowledge exchange.  

Candidate profile :

• You hold a Master's degree in Food Technology or a related field and combine this with at least 8 years of relevant experience within the food industry. Experience with bakery products is a strong asset.
• You have at least 5 years of experience in people management role, with cross functional R&D project leader background.
• You have experience working with multinational customers and a proven track record of customer co-creation and innovation partnerships.
• You have a mature business mindset, strong decision-making skills, and the ability to influence stakeholders across functions and organizational levels.
• You are proactive, energetic, and willing to challenge the status quo. You are a team player with a collaborative mindset, fostering strong cross-functional partnerships with sales & operations.
• You have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal, in Polish & English. Additional regional languages are considered an advantage.