Research and Development Manager

Kerry Group • Springfield, AR

10d • Onsite

About The Position

Kerry is the world's leading taste and nutrition company for the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. Every day we partner with customers to create healthier, tastier and more sustainable products that are consumed by billions of people across the world. Our vision is to be our customers' most valued partner, creating a world of sustainable nutrition. A career with Kerry offers you an opportunity to shape the future of food while providing you opportunities to explore and grow in a truly global environment.

R&D Manager will lead the research, development, and optimization of seasoning blends, flavor systems, and taste technologies for meat applications. This role requires strong technical depth, a collaborative mindset, and the confidence to present complex innovations directly to customers. The ideal candidate will thrive in a fast-paced environment, working cross‑functionally with marketing, operations, quality, finance, and commercial teams to deliver high‑value solutions to our customers.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Meat Science, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in food product development, with a strong focus on meat product development.
• Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Strong project management, time management, and organizational abilities.
• Ability to manage stakeholders and develop strong business relationships.
• Strong communication and presentation skills; able to bring innovation and value to meetings.
• Ability to work effectively in cross‑functional, collaborative environments.
• Flexibility to adapt to project needs, customer timelines, and team demands.
• Experience with sensory evaluation and consumer testing.
• Knowledge of global flavor trends, ingredient sourcing, and meat application technologies.
• Proficiency in food formulation software, including SAP.
• Ability to construct logical development pathways that lead to effective technical solutions.
• Demonstrated passion for continuous learning and personal skill development.

Responsibilities

• Lead the R&D team in developing innovative taste systems for a broad range of meat products.
• Formulate, test, and optimize seasoning blends and flavor solutions that meet customer expectations for flavor, safety, cost, and performance.
• Conduct research on ingredient functionality, processing interactions, consumer preferences, and emerging flavor trends.
• Ensure all formulations meet food safety, labeling, and regulatory requirements.
• Act as a direct technical partner to customers, presenting solutions, leading working sessions, and supporting commercialization.
• Deliver flavor capability presentations, ideation sessions, and technical workshops to create new business opportunities.
• Troubleshoot customer challenges and provide expert recommendations using strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities.
• Manage R&D resources and project priorities to ensure timely, high‑quality execution.
• Partner with cross‑functional teams—including Marketing, Finance, Production, Quality, Procurement, and Sales—to bring new products to market.
• Communicate project results and strategic recommendations to senior leadership.
• Remain current on market trends, processing technologies, ingredient innovations, and regulatory changes specific to the Meat EUM.
• Identify new technologies or approaches to enhance Kerry’s Meat Taste Systems portfolio.

Benefits

• Kerry offers a competitive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, paid time off, a 401(k) plan with employee and company contribution opportunities, Employee Share Plan, Life, disability, and accident insurance, and tuition reimbursement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees