Product Development Manager (Food)

Development Manager

Germany

Up to €75k

The Company

A leading international food manufacturer is seeking a senior leader to drive innovation and excellence within its development function. The organisation delivers high-quality food solutions across industry, retail, and food service, with a strong commitment to modern technologies, sensory performance, and continuous improvement. The Development Team plays a central role in shaping future product ranges across multiple formats and global markets.

The Role

We are looking for an experienced and strategic Head of Development Team to lead a high-performing product development function. This role combines team leadership, hands‑on formulation expertise, and close collaboration with QA, Production, Procurement, and Commercial teams. You will drive new product development, optimise processes, and oversee the delivery of high‑quality recipes across powdered, liquid, and paste formats—from concept through to scale‑up and full production.

This is a full‑time, on‑site leadership position.

Key Accountabilities

• Lead and manage the development team both technically and disciplinarily.
• Advance product development processes strategically, incorporating new technologies and market trends.
• Develop and optimise recipes (powdered, liquid, paste) for customers in industry, retail, and food service.
• Plan and execute development trials, sensory evaluations, and cost‑effectiveness analyses.
• Assess and introduce new raw materials, including technical and commercial evaluation.
• Organise tastings and ensure sensory and quality standards are met.
• Oversee upscaling to production lines and transfer products into manufacturing.
• Manage master data (raw materials, articles) and maintain recipes and specifications.
• Collaborate with QA, Production, and Purchasing during audits and process improvements.

Person Profile

• Degree in Food Technology, Chemistry, or a comparable field
• Several years of proven leadership experience in an R&D or product development environment.
• Expertise in developing and optimising powdered, liquid, and paste products.
• Proficient with ERP/PLM systems and confident in specification and master data management.
• Excellent understanding of food law and quality assurance.
• International market experience, ideally within food service, retail, or the meat industry.
• Strong background in sensory evaluation, tastings, and raw material assessment, including economic analyses.
• Strong communicator and team‑oriented, with experience working cross‑functionally.
• Business‑fluent in English and German (spoken and written).

REF: PR/

Due to a high volume of responses, we cannot reply to each application individually. If you have not had a response within one week, we are sorry to say your application has not been successful on this occasion.