Head of R&D and New Product Development

Add expected salary to your profile for insights

Kinrise is a growing, privately owned powerhouse in Australian food manufacturing with some of Australia's most loved and innovative brands. We describe ourselves as a 'start up with scale' and have a burning ambition to grow our business. Formed in 2018 the Kinrise portfolio covers Biscuits, Breakfast, Baking, Bakery, and Snackfood categories and has 40+ years making iconic Australian food, with a rich Australian heritage that's grounded in family origins.

Are you ready to lead the charge on product innovation for Kinrise Snackfoods? We're looking for a dynamic Head of R&D and New Product Development to join our Snackfoods Senior Leadership Team on a 12 months maternity leave contract to shape the future of snacking across Australia.

About the Role

Reporting directly to the General Manager and sitting on the Snackfoods Senior Leadership Team, this is a pivotal leadership role with end-to-end responsibility for delivering winning products that delight consumers and fuel growth.

You'll lead a passionate team to drive the development and execution of the Snackfoods category's innovation roadmap. From blue-sky ideation to recipe design, factory trials to full-scale production, you'll bring products to life that are delicious, scalable, and strategically aligned.

As the Head of R&D and New Product Development, you will:

• Shape and execute the 3-year and annual product development strategy, aligned with Kinrise's purpose, values, and business growth plans.
• Drive new product development from concept to commercialisation, with sustainability and speed-to-market at the core.
• Continuously improve existing products for quality, efficiency, and consumer satisfaction while enhancing processes.
• Ensure compliance with food safety standards, provide technical guidance, and stay ahead of industry trends and innovation in ingredients, packaging, and systems.
• Lead, coach, and develop a dynamic R&D and NPD team, fostering a culture of accountability, creativity, and continuous improvement.
• Partner with Marketing, Sales, Operations, Procurement, and external stakeholders to bring innovation to life and ensure excellence in execution.
• Lead strategic, complex innovation and renovation projects, ensuring resourcing, budget, and timelines are aligned to deliver end-to-end success.

What You'll Bring:

• Minimum 7 years of senior research & development experience, preferably in the food industry
• A strategic mindset with the ability to influence and deliver through others.
• A passion for food, innovation, and quality.
• Strong technical acumen and experience bringing products from concept to commercialisation.
• Outstanding communication, stakeholder engagement, and people leadership skills.
• A proactive, autonomous 'hands on' approach with the ability to think creatively and outside the box.

Ready to make your mark on a much-loved brand? Apply now and let's create the next big snack sensation together

Why Join Us?

Kinrise is a fast paced, agile business that focuses on your talents and challenges you to perform at your best. An opportunity with us would mean:

• An opportunity to work with leading Australian-made brands and products
• An exciting role in a growing business with a great history and an ambitious growth agenda
• Supportive and collaborative team culture

Kinrise is a growing, privately owned powerhouse in Australian food manufacturing with some of Australia's most loved and innovative brands. We describe ourselves as a 'start up with scale' and have a burning ambition to grow our business. Formed in 2018 the Kinrise portfolio covers Biscuits, Breakfast, Baking, Bakery, and Snackfood categories and has 40+ years making iconic Australian food, with a rich Australian heritage that's grounded in family origins.

Are you ready to lead the charge on product innovation for Kinrise Snackfoods? We're looking for a dynamic Head of R&D and New Product Development to join our Snackfoods Senior Leadership Team on a 12 months maternity leave contract to shape the future of snacking across Australia.

About the Role

Reporting directly to the General Manager and sitting on the Snackfoods Senior Leadership Team, this is a pivotal leadership role with end-to-end responsibility for delivering winning products that delight consumers and fuel growth.

You'll lead a passionate team to drive the development and execution of the Snackfoods category's innovation roadmap. From blue-sky ideation to recipe design, factory trials to full-scale production, you'll bring products to life that are delicious, scalable, and strategically aligned.

As the Head of R&D and New Product Development, you will:

• Shape and execute the 3-year and annual product development strategy, aligned with Kinrise's purpose, values, and business growth plans.
• Drive new product development from concept to commercialisation, with sustainability and speed-to-market at the core.
• Continuously improve existing products for quality, efficiency, and consumer satisfaction while enhancing processes.
• Ensure compliance with food safety standards, provide technical guidance, and stay ahead of industry trends and innovation in ingredients, packaging, and systems.
• Lead, coach, and develop a dynamic R&D and NPD team, fostering a culture of accountability, creativity, and continuous improvement.
• Partner with Marketing, Sales, Operations, Procurement, and external stakeholders to bring innovation to life and ensure excellence in execution.
• Lead strategic, complex innovation and renovation projects, ensuring resourcing, budget, and timelines are aligned to deliver end-to-end success.

What You'll Bring:

• Minimum 7 years of senior research & development experience, preferably in the food industry
• A strategic mindset with the ability to influence and deliver through others.
• A passion for food, innovation, and quality.
• Strong technical acumen and experience bringing products from concept to commercialisation.
• Outstanding communication, stakeholder engagement, and people leadership skills.
• A proactive, autonomous 'hands on' approach with the ability to think creatively and outside the box.

Ready to make your mark on a much-loved brand? Apply now and let's create the next big snack sensation together

Why Join Us?

Kinrise is a fast paced, agile business that focuses on your talents and challenges you to perform at your best. An opportunity with us would mean:

• An opportunity to work with leading Australian-made brands and products
• An exciting role in a growing business with a great history and an ambitious growth agenda
• Supportive and collaborative team culture

Salary match Number of applicants Skills match