R&D Manager

Lead, mentor, and develop an R&D product development team, fostering a culture of innovation, curiosity, and accountability. Oversee all aspects of new product development from ideation, recipe creation, pilot production, scale-up, and commercialization. Drive project prioritization, resource allocation, and timelines to ensure efficient and successful product launches. Lead recipe formulation, costing, ingredient sourcing, and process optimization while maintaining compliance with SQF, USDA, and other certifications. Collaborate with nutritionists, QA/QC, and culinary teams to ensure products meet nutritional, sensory, and safety standards. Evaluate and implement emerging food trends, new ingredients, and innovative processing techniques. Work cross-functionally to set the strategic vision for product innovation, aligning new concepts with company goals, consumer trends, and competitive insights. Partner with Marketing, Sales, and Brand teams to support product launches, packaging, development, and marketing campaigns. Assist with taste panels, consumer testing, and sensory evaluations to ensure products exceed expectations. Serve as the primary R&D liaison for label approvals (GFCO/Paleo/NGPV/USDA) and regulatory compliance. Establish and maintain robust R&D processes, documentation standards, and best practices. Troubleshoot production issues, monitor consistency and quality, and optimize manufacturing processes. Maintain detailed records in recipe/formula systems, ensuring accuracy and reproducibility. Other duties as assigned to support the growth and evolution of Kevin’s Natural Foods. Requirements Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Nutrition, or Culinary School certification; advanced degree a plus. Minimum 5 years of experience in food product development in a manufacturing environment, with at least 2 years in a leadership role. Deep knowledge of ingredient functionality, flavor development, sensory evaluation, and clean-label product development. Strong understanding of food science principles, GMP, HACCP, food safety, and regulatory compliance. Proven experience managing teams, projects, and cross-functional initiatives in a fast paced environment. Strong analytical, organizational, and project management skills. Experience with paleo/keto or specialized dietary products is a strong plus. Proficiency with nutritional software, quality systems, spreadsheets, and lab documentation. Core Competencies Demonstrates expertise in food product development, including recipe formulation, ingredient sourcing, and compliance with food safety standards. Proven ability to lead and mentor teams while driving innovation and aligning product strategies with market trends. Highest-signal resume keywords Food Product Development Recipe Formulation Regulatory Compliance Project Management Team Leadership ATS Optimization Keywords Hard Skills Ingredient Functionality Flavor Development Sensory Evaluation Clean-Label Product Development Food Science Principles GMP HACCP Nutritional Software Proficiency Quality Systems Lab Documentation Soft Skills Analytical Skills Organizational Skills Certifications & Qualifications Bachelor’s Degree in Food Science Food Technology Nutrition Culinary School Certification Industry Keywords SQF USDA Paleo Keto Consumer Testing Taste Panels Cross-Functional Collaboration Tools & Technologies Spreadsheets #J-18808-Ljbffr