R&D Director – Australia & New Zealand

About the role

McCain is seeking an experienced R&D Director to lead its research and development function across Australia and New Zealand. Reporting to the VP R&D APACSA, you will act as a strategic partner to the ANZ senior leadership team, turning consumer insights and technical expertise into growth‑focused innovations.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the ANZ R&D organisation, aligning priorities with overall business strategy.
• Manage the regional innovation and renovation portfolio, driving projects from concept to commercial launch.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality and Procurement to ensure technical feasibility and operational readiness.
• Oversee complex scale‑up and production trials, providing clear trade‑off analysis and investment recommendations.
• Contribute to cost competitiveness, productivity improvements and portfolio optimisation.
• Build strong partnerships with global and regional teams to accelerate shared development.
• Monitor regulatory and compliance changes and translate impacts into actionable business decisions.
• Develop R&D talent, succession plans and future‑fit skills within the ANZ team.

Required profile

• Degree in Food Science, Engineering or a related discipline with direct application in food or FMCG manufacturing.
• Extensive senior‑level experience leading R&D in a complex, regulated manufacturing environment.
• Proven track record delivering innovation from concept through scale‑up and commercialisation.
• Strong commercial acumen and ability to translate technical topics into clear business options.
• Experience working in matrixed, global organisations and influencing cross‑functional teams.
• Leadership style that combines strategic clarity with hands‑on problem solving.

Required skills