Head of Research & Development

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 Highly organised, resilient, and able to execute against deadlines

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