Job Summary
Job Title Research & Development Director
Job Description
The Director of Research and Development (R&D) leads the technical vision, product innovation pipeline, and renovation strategy for the frozen novelty portfolio. This role is responsible for driving growth through the creation of new products and optimization of existing products, ensuring high quality, safety, and cost-effectiveness from benchtop to commercialization. This includes leveraging internal teams and external agencies as needed, ensuring alignment with business objectives and driving growth and brand/product interest. Partners closely with Marketing, Sales, and Operations teams, as well as interfacing with the CEO, CFO, and members of Finance team to drive strategic initiatives and business performance while developing and supporting the company?s sales strategy. Reports to CEO.
Job Details (Key Responsibilities)
Provide strategic innovation & product development via end-to-end pipeline management, new product development, sensory evaluation, and commercial scale-up, with a focus in the frozen novelty category, including novel texture development, inclusion technology, coating formulations, and dairy/non-dairy formulations.
Optimizes formulas via continuous improvement of existing product lines to enhance taste, texture, nutritional value, and cost-efficiency while identifying and accelerating development of trending flavors and products via close partnership with the Marketing and Sales teams to monitor consumer trends, market demands, and emerging food technologies to identify white-space opportunities.
Safeguards technical leadership & regulatory compliance, ensuring all products meet FDA/USDA regulations, including labeling requirements, FSMA compliance, and nutritional standards, while remaining within food safety standards, such as shelf-life testing, pathogen validation, and quality standards, in close collaboration with QA and Operations.
Lead and integrate sensory programs across R&D, Production, and QA to ensure consistent product quality and alignment from development through commercialization.
Ensures thorough technical documentation using accurate, complete formulation, specifications, and process documentation are maintained for all products and formulations.
Collaborates with internal Manufacturing and Logistics teams to optimize production, including ingredient sourcing, freezing technologies, and packaging while building and managing relationships with contract manufacturers (co-packers) and suppliers to test and scale product innovations when necessary, balancing innovation with affordability by maximizing product profitability and managing the R&D budget.
Leads and mentors a small team including a flavor development specialist (internal), and food scientists/technologists (currently external), fostering a culture of creativity, accountability, and continuous improvement. Implement business and development plans to improve the technical capabilities of the R&D staff to support the business.
Skills
- Deep knowledge of food chemistry, microbiology, and manufacturing processes.
- Experience taking products from benchtop to commercial manufacturing.
- Strong experience working with and understanding of rice and/or starch rheology, including its impact on texture, processing, and finished product performance.
- Ability to analyze data, track KPIs, such as Innovation Rate, Time-to-Market, Cost Optimization, and Product Quality, and make data-driven decisions.
- Ability to understand and work within COGS and department budgetary guidelines.
Qualities Required
Soft skills
- Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
- Proven ability to lead and manage a team and cross-functional projects, while inspiring and motivating employees, and fostering a positive work environment.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, as well as strong interpersonal skills for building relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Ability to follow, apply, interpret, and explain regulations and/or guidelines.
- Consistently demonstrate accuracy, thoroughness, professionalism, and dependability.
- Willingly exerts extra effort as needed; delegates as appropriate.
Experience Required
10+ years of R&D experience in the CPG food industry, with a strong preference for experience in frozen desserts, dairy, or frozen novelties.
Educational Requirements
Bachelor?s degree in Food Science, Dairy Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related field; Master?s preferred.
Environment
Manufacturing Plant & Corporate Office
