The Chief R&D Officer will lead the R&D function for a fragrance and flavour business, shaping its innovation strategy and supporting continued growth.
Develop and implement R&D strategies aligned with business goals, market trends and customer needs.
Lead the innovation pipeline for new fragrance and flavour formulations, maintaining fast development timelines.
Oversee product development from concept through to launch.
Collaborate with Account Management, Marketing, Production and Regulatory Affairs to ensure successful development and compliance at formulation and finished-product level.
Direct research into new ingredients, technologies and industry trends.
Foster a collaborative culture of innovation, creative problem-solving and continuous improvement.
Lead and mentor scientists, perfumers, flavourists and laboratory technicians, managing project timelines, budgets and resources.
Ensure products meet quality standards and regulatory requirements, and maintain best practices in laboratory operations and safety.
Work closely with Marketing to develop new product concepts informed by consumer insights and R&D research.
Contribute to the development of a planned educational campus supporting the next generation of scientists and evaluators.
The RequirementsSignificant R&D leadership experience, ideally 15+ years within fragrance, consumer goods or related industries.
An advanced degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or a related discipline. A PhD is desirable but not essential.
Proven people-management experience and a track record of successful product launches and innovation.
Exposure to fragrance or chemicals, gained within a fragrance house or consumer goods business. Experience in home care, personal care or candles is particularly relevant.
Understanding of fragrance formulation and sensory evaluation. A perfumer or evaluator background is not required.
Strong emotional intelligence, communication, collaboration and project-management skills.
A hands-on leadership approach suited to a lean organisation, with the willingness to learn, build relationships and evolve established ways of working.
Experience across multiple product categories, international markets and complex regulatory environments is advantageous.
Familiarity with sustainable and environmentally responsible product development is desirable.
