HEAD OF RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
CREWE
UP TO £70,000
THE OPPORTUNITY
We are recruiting for a Head of Research & Development to take ownership of all R&D and New Product Development activity for a growing, values-led organisation.
This is a senior, hands-on leadership role suited to someone who excels in project and programme management, innovation governance, and end-to-end delivery. While this role sits at Head of Department level, it is not a large people-management position, instead, it focuses on leading R&D activity through coordination, influence, and cross-functional collaboration.
Reporting directly to the CEO, you will define and deliver the R&D and innovation strategy, manage the full R&D budget, and ensure that new products are taken from concept through to successful market launch in a structured, commercially focused way.
THE ROLE
Own and manage the full R&D and NPD budget, ensuring effective resource allocation
Define, implement, and evolve the R&D and innovation strategy aligned to business goals
Develop and maintain multi-year product and technology roadmaps
Establish clear governance, controls, and reporting frameworks for R&D activity
Track and record R&D hours to a high standard to support tax reclaims
Oversee intellectual property protection, ensuring NDAs are in place and liaising with legal advisors
Lead the full product lifecycle from ideation and feasibility through design, validation, launch, and review
Ensure all developments meet regulatory, safety, quality, and performance standards
Coordinate closely with engineering, operations, commercial, and supply chain teams to ensure delivery
Own the R&D portfolio, ensuring projects are delivered on time, on budget, and to specification
Track progress against KPIs and continuously improve development processes
Identify, manage, and mitigate technical, commercial, and delivery risks
Stakeholder & External Engagement
Build strong relationships with senior internal stakeholders and external partners
Ensure compliance with all relevant industry standards, regulations, and certifications
Champion structured innovation, creativity, and emerging technologies
Drive improvements in sustainability, product performance, and manufacturability
Embed best-practice R&D and project management approaches across the organisation
THE PERSON
Proven experience in a Head of Research & Development, Research & Development Lead, Research & Development Manager or similar role leading R&D, innovation, engineering, or technical programmes in a manufacturing or technical environment
Strong project and programme management capability, with experience owning multiple workstreams
Background in new product development and commercialisation
Experience managing budgets and working at a strategic level
Confident communicator with strong stakeholder management skills
Comfortable operating in a hands-on, delivery-focused Head of Department role
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