R&D Director, Australia & New Zealand

Position Title: R&D Director Australia & New Zealand

Position Type: Regular - Full-Time

Requisition ID:42258

In every role McCainers are ambitious curious and passionate about creating exceptional work experiences together for high impact outcomes. With a customer-first mindset we make doing business with McCain easy.

About the role.

As R&D Director ANZ you will be a senior business leader at the heart of innovation-led growth. Reporting to the VP R&D APACSA you will lead the ANZ R&D function and act as a strategic partner to the ANZ Senior Leadership Team translating consumer insight technical expertise and operational realities into clear value-creating choices that fuel sustainable growth and competitive edge.

This is an opportunity to shape strategy influence at executive level and lead endtoend innovationfrom early concept through to commercial scalewhile building futureready capability.

What youll be doing.

• Lead the ANZ R&D organisation with a strong enterprise mindset shaping priorities that align with business strategy.
• Lead the regional innovation and renovation portfolio driving timely and disciplined progression from idea to launch.
• Partner closely with Manufacturing Supply Chain Quality and Procurement to ensure technical feasibility operational readiness and risk mitigation.
• Lead complex scaleup and production trials providing clear insight on tradeoffs timing and investment decisions.
• Drive R&D contributions to cost competitiveness productivity and portfolio optimisation.
• Build strong partnerships across global and regional teams to enable shared development and accelerate innovation across markets.
• Anticipate regulatory and compliance changes translating technical impacts into practical business actions.
• Develop and sustain critical R&D capabilities including talent succession and futurefit skills across the ANZ team.

What youll need to be successful.

• A degree in Food Science Engineering or a related discipline with direct application in food or FMCG manufacturing.
• Extensive seniorlevel experience leading R&D within a complex regulated manufacturing environment.
• Proven success delivering innovation from concept through scaleup and commercialisation.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes supplier collaboration and regulatory pathways.
• Commercial acumen with the ability to translate complex technical topics in clear options and insights that enable effective business decision making.
• Experience operating effectively in matrixed global organisations and influencing across functions.
• A leadership style that combines strategic clarity with hands-on problem solving and builds trust across technical and non-technical teams.

About the team.

You will lead a diverse R&D team across ANZ and work across the matrix with manufacturing sites regional stakeholders and global R&D communities to bring innovation to life and deliver sustainable highquality outcomes.

About McCain.

Click Here to learn more about McCain and how we provide you with opportunities to make an impact that matters.

Leadership principles.

At McCain our leadership principles guide how we engage with customers collaborate as a team and achieve success. We focus on understanding customer needs driving innovation empowering people and taking ownership to clear obstacles and deliver results.

The McCain experience.

We are McCain. This statement is a testament to our collective strength and our individual value. Your contributions play a vital role in our success. Our winning culture is rooted in authenticity and trust empowering us to bring out the best in one another. Here youll find opportunities to learn grow and thrive. Join us and experience why were better together.

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*Weve got this covered! No external agency support is required at this time and unsolicited CVs will not be considered.

McCain Foods is an equal opportunity employer. As a global family-owned company we strive to be the employer of choice in the diverse communities around the world in which we live and work. We recognize that inclusion drives our creativity resilience and success and makes our business qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race religion color national origin sex age veteran status disability or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

McCain is an accessible employer. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials or accessible meeting rooms) please let us knowand we will work with you to find appropriate solutions.

Your privacy is important to us. By submitting personal data or information to us you agree this will be handled in accordance with McCains Global Privacy Policyand Global Employee Privacy Policy as applicable. McCain leverages AI in the hiring process though all final decisions are made by humans. You can understand our approach to AI and how your personal information isbeing handled here.

Job Family:Research & Development
Division:Global Research and Development
Department:ANZ Research and Development
Location(s): AU - Australia : Victoria : Melbourne

Company:McCain Foods (Aust) Pty.