Head of Research & Development & NPD

Head of Research & Development & NPD

Head of R&D and NPD

Remote, with a requirement to attend the Bristol office twice a month.

Salary: Up to £70,000

 

The company is a founder-led organisation, proudly B Corp certified, operating within the high-growth sustainable personal care market. This pioneering brand exclusively uses organic products and is actively challenging industry norms. The successful candidate will join a mission-driven business focused on innovation and environmental responsibility.

 

What’s on Offer? (Competitive Compensation and Benefits)

  • Remote Working with only 2 mandatory days a month required in Bristol.
  • Generous Annual Leave: 25 days holiday plus bank holidays.
  • Wellbeing & Social Responsibility: 2 dedicated well-being days and 2 days of paid volunteering.
  • Performance Incentive: Access to a Bonus scheme based on company success.

 

What will you do as Head of R&D and NPD

  • Delivering comprehensive plans across the full range of technical, New Product Development (NPD), and commercial activities.
  • Managing the entire product lifecycle, from initial concept generation through to successful market launch.
  • Preparing a detailed Bill of Materials (BOM) for each new product line to ensure cost accuracy.
  • Creating essential dashboards for pipeline tracking, forecast analysis, margin monitoring, and Technology Readiness Level (TRL) gates.
  • Preparing data rooms, grant reporting documentation, and the compelling investor narrative.
  • Selecting and onboarding strategic partners across the supply chain, negotiating Joint Development Agreements (JDAs)

 

What will you need to be the Head of R&D and NPD

  • A qualification in Polymer Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related scientific field is required.
  • Proven experience in New Product Development (NPD), specifically within the personal care sector.
  • The candidate must be comfortable switching seamlessly between practical benchtop experiments and high-level boardroom strategy.
  • Experience working within the sustainable products sector is highly advantageous.
  • Process design and Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA) / Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) modelling is essential for financial viability.

 

 Job Number: 10224