R&D Director, Australia & New Zealand

About the Role

McCain Foods is seeking an experienced senior leader to join as the R&D Director for Australia & New Zealand (ANZ). Reporting to the VP R&D APACSA, this role is pivotal in driving innovation-led growth by steering the ANZ R&D function. The director will act as a strategic collaborator with the ANZ Senior Leadership Team, converting consumer insights, technical expertise, and operational constraints into value-driven business strategies. This position offers the chance to shape corporate innovation strategy from initial concept to commercialization, while fostering future-focused capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the ANZ R&D department with a focus on enterprise-wide priorities aligned with business goals.
• Manage the regional portfolio of innovation and renovation, ensuring prompt and disciplined progress from ideation to product launch.
• Collaborate closely with Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, and Procurement to guarantee technical feasibility, operational preparation, and risk management.
• Lead intricate scale-up operations and production trials, providing clear assessments of compromises, timelines, and investment needs.
• Contribute to cost efficiency, productivity, and portfolio optimization through R&D initiatives.
• Build strong partnerships with global and regional teams to promote shared development and accelerate innovation across markets.
• Monitor and anticipate regulatory and compliance developments, translating their technical implications into actionable business responses.
• Develop and maintain key R&D capabilities including talent management, succession planning, and cultivating future-ready skills within the ANZ team.

Requirements

• Degree in Food Science, Engineering, or a related area applicable to food or FMCG manufacturing environments.
• Significant senior-level experience in leading R&D functions within complex and regulated manufacturing settings.
• Track record of successfully driving innovations from concept through pilot scale to full commercialization.
• Comprehensive understanding of manufacturing processes, supplier partnerships, and regulatory procedures.
• Strong commercial insight with ability to simplify complex technical issues into clear business decisions.
• Experience operating effectively in global matrix organizations and influencing cross-functional teams.
• Leadership approach combining strategic vision with hands-on problem-solving while fostering trust across both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Additional Information

You will lead a diverse R&D team across ANZ and collaborate extensively across manufacturing locations and regional/global stakeholders to deliver sustainable innovation and high-quality results.

McCain Foods is committed to equal opportunity employment and values diversity and inclusion in its workforce. Applicants requiring accommodations during recruitment are encouraged to communicate their needs.

McCain upholds the privacy of applicant data in compliance with its global privacy policies and uses AI in the hiring process with all ultimate decisions made by humans.