This role is based in UK, Ashby-de-la-Zouch - Home of KP Snacks’ Hula Hoops, popchips, Nik Naks, and more.
The R&D Category Leader owns the product innovation strategy for the assigned category and co‑creates the category innovation roadmap in close partnership with the European Marketing Category Lead. The role provides technical leadership to deliver a sustainable 3‑year innovation pipeline, ensure in‑market quality, and drive value creation across the Group. The Specialities category includes direct extruded (H&L pressure), compress popping and pellets.
Define and lead the category product innovation strategy with Marketing
Build and deliver a 3‑year sustainable innovation pipeline
Translate consumer, market and competitive insights into product opportunities
Steer product and process development in line with the IMAGINE process
Lead technical feasibility, risk, IP and resource assessments
Ensure in‑market quality, specifications implementation and compliance
Drive BFY / regulatory‑compliant transformation and responsible manufacturing
Identify productivity and value‑engineering opportunities
Lead the team and develop their technical, managerial skills and capabilities.
Steer external technical partners and key suppliers
Degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Chemical Engineering or similar
Extensive experience in FMCG food R&D, international environment preferred
Strong expertise in product development, formulation, sensory & process technologies
Proven experience leading R&D innovation projects and teams
Strategic thinker with strong hands‑on execution mindset
Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
Fluent English and willingness to travel internationally
Willing to be based in UK
Intersnack has become one of Europe’s leading savory snacks producers by ‘creating happy snacking moments’ in people’s lives. Being privately owned, we operate with a long-term view and commit ourselves to a more sustainable world. Successfully and sustainably growing, our turnover in 2024 was more than €4.5 bn. We are now present in more than 30 countries across Europe and beyond. We have 12 regional Management Units, 45 production sites, and a total workforce of approximately 15,000 people worldwide.
An enjoyable, broad and fulfilling role with one of Europe’s biggest savory snacks producers. The chance to grow in an environment that values teamwork and collaboration, as well recognized to your individuality, welcoming your views, and celebrating your growth. Naturally we offer a competitive salary and benefits package, but also the opportunity to stand out for your professionalism and performance, moving forward in a challenging environment that supports each individual team member to achieve their very best. And a place to securely develop your career as part of a business that cares about the wellbeing of all its people and understands that work-life balance is fundamental to success. At Intersnack, we value and cherish diversity for the power and potential it creates. We have extraordinary team spirit, empower our people to take ownership for what they do and challenge each other to improve. Because we know that, to become a big player, you need to master being a team player first.
Our values and behaviors are important to how we work, and they define our culture, they are:
Thinking responsibly
Acting entrepreneurially
Growing together
Please upload your application documents in English only!
If you are not willing to relocate to UK, we cannot consider your application as succesfull.
Intersnack was founded in Germany more than sixty years ago and made its first potato chips in 1968. Since then, we have grown and flourished to become one of the market leaders in savoury snacks, present in over 30 countries across Europe, Australia, New Zealand and beyond.
We are passionate about happy snacking moments: enriching people’s lives with the right choice of great tasting savoury snacks. Every day, more than 15 million consumers around the globe enjoy our products.
We have a large portfolio of local and international snack brands, from potato chips, nuts, and baked products to specialty snacks. Our many famous brand names include funny-frisch, Chio, Estrella, Hula Hoops, POM-BÄR, McCoy's, ültje, Vico, Tayto and Griffin's.
As a privately owned company, we operate with a long-term view. We believe our strength lies in our unique blend of local knowledge and international expertise; our people and teamwork plus our entrepreneurial spirit and a drive for excellence in everything we do.
Because we are active in many markets, we have a diverse community of employees, across many countries. But we all share an inclusive culture, driven by teamwork and motivated by excellence.
And we care deeply about the impacts of our actions - on our people, our business and the planet.
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Please be aware of recruitment fraud involving the offer of fictitious job opportunities to obtain personal information or money. At Intersnack, we will never in the recruitment process request for money e.g. for visas or taxes or ask for personal information such as bank account details before the contract stage. If you get approached by a suspicious recruiter, please inform us through joinus@intersnackgroup.com.
