Head of R&D & Innovation

At Britvic Ireland - Part of the Carlsberg Group, we're all about creating and sharing amazing soft drinks. Our iconic brands like Ballygowan, Club Orange, Miwadi, Energise, TK, and Cidona have been loved for generations. We also partner with PepsiCo to bring you favourites like Pepsi, 7UP, and Lipton.
 
We're always innovating and evolving, staying true to our vision of being the most dynamic soft drinks company, creating a better tomorrow. With over 240 years of history, our brands are rooted in authenticity and heritage. Our success is driven by the passion of our people, and we foster an environment where everyone can thrive and grow and truly be themselves.
 
As we embark on this exciting new chapter under the Carlsberg Group, our purpose remains clear: striving for perfection, focusing on research and innovation, listening to our consumers, and driving sustainability to make a positive impact on society.

Job Overview

The Head of R&D & Innovation is a strategic senior leadership role responsible for driving technical excellence and innovation within our Marketing team. This position shapes and delivers winning technical solutions that enable brand growth while building a robust future innovation pipeline. Working collaboratively across Supply Chain, Procurement, and external partners, this role translates consumer insights and commercial ambitions into compliant, scalable, and differentiated products. As a key member of the Marketing Leadership Team, the successful candidate will provide technical thought leadership, establish clear governance, and ensure R&D resources focus on critical business priorities to deliver on our Annual Operating Plan, strategic innovation agenda, sustainability commitments, and regulatory compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and execute technical elements of the Irish Annual Operating Plan, ensuring consistent achievement of quality, cost, timing, supply chain, and compliance objectives
• Develop future-focused innovations with a minimum 5-year horizon by leveraging internal capabilities and external ecosystem partnerships
• Chair the Activity Executive and Innovation Council, establishing transparent governance and robust decision-making processes
• Drive sustainability initiatives and ensure full compliance with Irish market regulatory standards across the portfolio
• Spearhead cost optimization across packaging and ingredients, delivering sustainable year-on-year savings without compromising brand positioning or quality
• Build R&D capability through coaching, succession planning, and targeted development to create a high-performing team aligned with business growth priorities

Requirements

• Proven senior R&D/Technical leadership experience within a structured FMCG environment
• Comprehensive understanding of innovation processes, product development, packaging technologies, and regulatory frameworks
• Demonstrated success managing complex, cross-functional project portfolios with measurable business outcomes
• Strong financial acumen, including OPEX management, cost optimization strategies, and P&L drivers
• Experience working effectively within matrix organizations and influencing at senior leadership levels
• Track record of collaboration with global R&D or technical networks to leverage best practices and innovations

Key Behaviors

• Strategic Thinking: Balances short-term delivery with long-term innovation vision, connecting technical solutions to business growth
• Collaborative Leadership: Builds trust through transparency, ownership, and consistent delivery across functions
• Technical Excellence: Champions quality, compliance, and brand integrity without compromising momentum
• People Development: Creates conditions for sustained high performance through clear accountability and targeted development
• Agile Decision-Making: Effectively balances pace with rigor, and innovation with discipline
• Commercial Acumen: Ensures R&D initiatives directly contribute to growth outcomes, not just technical delivery

Education/Qualifications

• Degree in Science, Engineering, Food Science, or related technical discipline
• Business or Marketing degree may be considered with relevant technical experience
• Advanced qualifications in innovation management, product development, or related fields are advantageous