R&D Manager (m/w/d) Food

Das Unternehmen

HAPEKO is one of Germany’s leading consulting firms specializing in recruitment, executive search, organizational consulting, and succession advisory. We connect skilled professionals and executives seeking their next career opportunity with companies looking for the right talent. With more than 20 offices throughout Germany, HAPEKO combines nationwide reach with strong local market expertise.

Our client is part of an internationally, innovative, and successful B2B company with a turnover of over €1 billion, offering B2B customers customized, high-quality, and rapid product solutions in the confectionery sector (ingredients, patisserie, and bakery).

To further accelerate our growth trajectory, we are seeking an R&D Manager (m/f/d) for our Frankfurt am Main location to lead and develop the German R&D team and successfully integrate it into our international operations. The successful candidate combines strong technical expertise with proven leadership experience and a pragmatic, hands-on approach and experience in managing dynamic international projects.

You will play a central role in accelerating time-to-market, driving product innovation, and ensuring the efficient and scalable execution of customer development projects. If you enjoy working in an international environment, leading high-performing teams, and transforming customer requirements into successful industrial solutions, we look forward to receiving your application.

Aufgaben

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of 4–5 R&D technologists
• Drive product development from initial concept through to industrial production
• Translate customer briefs into scalable, production-ready formulations
• Lead the development of sweet Ingredients, including product and process optimization
• Drive continuous improvements to products, manufacturing processes, and operational efficiency
• Take responsibility for industrialization and scale-up, ensuring a smooth transfer from laboratory development to production sites
• Act as the technical partner for Sales and Key Account Management.
• Collaborate closely with Operations, Production, Quality, Food Safety, Purchasing, Supply Chain, and international R&D teams, as well as the central Innovation Center

Profil

• Master’s degree in Food Technology, Food Science, Food Engineering, or a comparable discipline.
• Several years of leadership experience in R&D within the food industry; experience in a B2B environment is an advantage
• Proven ability to lead, coach, and develop high-performing teams
• Strong project management skills with experience in cross-functional and international environments
• Solid understanding of food processing and industrial manufacturing
• Results-oriented, pragmatic, and solution-driven, with the ability to manage complexity and maintain a strong sense of urgency
• Experience working with PLM, ERP systems, and digital tools
• Fluent in both German and English

Vorteile

• Attractive compensation package
• An international environment with close collaboration across global teams
• Tailored training and professional development opportunities
• Subsidized public transportation (JobTicket)
• Bike leasing programme (JobRad)
• Corporate sports membership (Wellpass)
• Regular company events
• 30 days of annual leave