Research And Development Manager

Minerva Foods is a leading exporter of beef in South America and also operates in the processed foods segment, supplying its products to more than 100 countries worldwide. In addition to Brazil, Minerva Foods has operations in Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay, and Colombia, as well as specialized lamb facilities in Australia and Chile. With 46 industrial units, we provide healthy and nutritious products to customers around the globe through our 23 distribution centers and 18 international offices.

At Minerva Foods, we believe that professional growth goes hand in hand with the development of the company. With internal opportunities, we encourage our talents to expand their horizons, take on new challenges, and continuously develop within the company.

Responsibilities and assignments

The R&D Manager acts as the key technical owner for product development and specification alignment for the U.S. business, ensuring that Minerva’s beef products meet customer expectations, commercial needs, and regulatory requirements. This role is responsible for strengthening the connection between what the U.S. customer requests and what origin plants in Latin America can produce and execute.

This position serves as a critical bridge between the U.S. and LATAM operations, translating differences in beef cut names, product standards, specifications, and market expectations into clear technical direction. The role helps prevent misunderstandings between commercial demand and production capability by ensuring that all parties are aligned on exactly what product is being requested, how it is described in each market, and how it must be produced.

The R&D Manager works cross-functionally with Sales, Commercial Leadership, Quality, Operations, and Origin teams to support new product development, improve existing products, reduce customer complaints, and increase confidence in Minerva’s technical and commercial capabilities in the U.S. market. The role combines technical product expertise with practical business understanding, requiring strong communication, plant knowledge, and customer-facing credibility.

This position requires strong knowledge of the American beef industry, including customer expectations, specifications, terminology, and regulatory standards, along with a solid understanding of how products, cuts, and processes are referred to and managed in Latin America. Spanish fluency is essential for successful coordination with origin teams and to ensure fast, accurate communication across regions.

Key responsibilities

· Lead R&D initiatives for new and existing beef products for the U.S. market, ensuring they meet customer requirements, quality standards, operational feasibility, and regulatory expectations.

· Act as the technical bridge between the U.S. market and LATAM origin plants, translating differences in beef cut names, specifications, and terminology into clear, aligned product definitions.

· Develop, adapt, and maintain product specifications for the U.S., ensuring alignment between customer expectations, Quality, Operations, and origin capabilities.

· Conduct customer visits and technical discussions to understand needs, gather feedback, and support new business opportunities for beef products.

· Conduct plant visits and collaborate with production and Quality teams to verify that products, yields, and processes match approved specifications and customer expectations.

· Lead new product development and product improvement projects (cut changes, specs, packaging, shelf-life, customer-specific adaptations) in coordination with Quality, Operations, and Commercial.

· Ensure compliance with USDA and other applicable food safety and labeling regulations in all R&D and product specification work.

· Monitor customer complaints and quality issues related to product performance, identify root causes, and coordinate corrective and preventive actions with Quality and Operations.

· Train and support internal teams (Sales, Operations, Quality) on U.S. vs LATAM beef cut terminology, specifications, and market expectations to reduce errors and misalignment.

· Maintain organized, up-to-date technical documentation, including product specifications, change histories, and R&D project records.

Requirements and qualifications

Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Meat Science, Animal Science, Food Engineering, or related field required.
• Advanced studies or certifications in meat science, food safety, regulatory compliance, or product development are a strong plus.

Experience:

· 5–8+ years of experience in R&D, technical services, quality, product development, or related technical/commercial roles within the beef or protein industry.

· Strong hands-on experience with beef cuts, specifications, yield considerations, packaging, and customer product requirements in the U.S. market.

· Demonstrated understanding of the American beef industry, including customer requirements, cut terminology, market expectations, and USDA regulatory standards.

· Practical experience working with Latin American origin plants or teams, with clear understanding of differences in beef cut names, product descriptions, and operational terminology between the U.S. and LATAM.

· Experience supporting customer visits, plant visits, technical issue resolution, and new product development projects.

· Experience writing, reviewing, and updating product specifications and technical documentation.

Skills:

· Fluent English and Spanish required. Portuguese is a plus.

· Strong knowledge of beef cuts and product specifications, including the ability to translate between U.S. and LATAM terminology with accuracy and confidence.

· Strong knowledge of USDA requirements and U.S. regulatory expectations related to beef products, labeling, and compliance.

· Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with customers, sales teams, plant teams, and leadership.

· Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, able to identify product gaps, root causes, and practical solutions.

· High attention to detail and technical accuracy, especially in product specifications and cross-regional communication.

· Proactive, hands-on, and comfortable working in a dynamic environment that requires both strategic thinking and operational follow-through.

· Ability to travel as needed for customer visits, plant visits, and cross-functional alignment.

Additional information

• Vacation Days
• PTO
• 401K
• Health, Dental, and Vision
• and more...