About Us:
Seabrook Crisps, established in 1945, is a proud British brand known for its iconic crinkle-cut crisps and bold flavour innovation. What began as a simple snack in Bradford has grown into a nationally recognised brand with a loyal following.
In 2018, Seabrook was acquired by Calbee, one of the world’s largest snack manufacturers, marking an exciting new chapter of growth. Now part of the Calbee Group UK, with manufacturing sites in Bradford and Deeside, the business continues to perform strongly in a challenging market — driven by ambition, innovation and great people.
With exciting growth plans and innovation at the heart of our strategy, we are now recruiting a passionate R&D Manager to strengthen our Marketing & R&D function and help shape the future of our brand and own-label portfolio.
About the Role:
As R&D Manager, you’ll play a critical role in driving Seabrook’s future innovation pipeline across both branded and own-label products. Working closely with Marketing, Sales, Supply Chain and our Group R&D team, you’ll take end-to-end ownership of New Product Development — from concept through to launch.
This is a hands-on, visible role where you will build concepts, develop samples, work with suppliers, lead projects and help embed an innovation-led culture across the business. You’ll also collaborate with key retail customers to deliver commercially successful products that delight consumers and meet market needs.
This role is based in Bradford (hybrid working – minimum 3 days on site), with some travel to our Deeside site and customer locations as required.
Key Responsibilities:
Drive the brand innovation strategy and build a robust NPD pipeline
Lead the development and delivery of brand NPD projects
Work closely with Sales and customers to generate own label concepts and deliver projects
Manage the full NPD lifecycle – from trend tracking and insight through to launch
Create product concepts, samples and specifications, working with suppliers where required
Collaborate with Supply Chain to deliver packaging and product requirements
Lead cross-functional project teams and oversee the stage & gate process
Champion innovation culture across the business.
What We’re Looking For:
A minimum of 4 years’ experience in commercial FMCG product development
Proven experience delivering successful NPD projects from concept to launch
Strong project management skills with the ability to work cross-functionally
Knowledge of frying and extrusion technologies is advantageous
Experience working with major UK retailers on own-label development is beneficial
Excellent IT and organisational skills
UK Full Clean Driving Licence
Desirable but not essential:
Fluent in Japanese
Experience of working with international marketing teams
Degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Nutrition or similar
Experience in savoury snacks
Personal Attributes
Collaborative and influential, able to work across functions and levels
Resilient, positive and calm under pressure
Proactive, self-motivated and agile in approach
Purpose-led with strong priority management
Pragmatic, creative problem solver
Well-organised with excellent attention to detail
What We Offer:
A dynamic, growing business with strong leadership and vision
A collaborative culture where innovation is encouraged
Competitive salary and benefits package
Opportunities for development within a global organisation
A real opportunity to shape products enjoyed by millions of consumers
How to Apply: If you’re ready to take the next step in your R&D career and want to be part of an exciting growth journey, we’d love to hear from you. Please send your CV and cover letter to: Charlotte.Midgley@calbeegroupuk.com