Head of R&D and Product Development, North America

Head of R&D and Product Development, North America Direct message the job poster from Murdoch Mason Executive Search Group Elite Executive Recruiter (LI Top 1%) | Make Hiring Human | C-Suite, Finance, HR, Supply Chain, Marketing, Merchandising, Operations, Technology You’ve created products that consumers love—grounded in science, shaped by insight, and scaled with purpose. You’ve led teams, launched new ideas, and built what didn’t exist before—then guided those products through formulation, regulatory hurdles, and into market launch. Now, you're ready to do that again—but with full ownership. Significant experience in food, beverage, dairy, nutrition, or closely related consumable product manufacturing is required. We’re conducting a confidential retained search for a senior R&D leader to build and lead product development for a global manufacturing company scaling aggressively in North America. The company is well-established internationally, but in the U.S., the research & development function is still early-stage—lean, hands-on, and moving fast. While this role is part of a global organization, the North American business operates with startup-like urgency. You’ll be responsible for building the structure, team, and innovation pipeline to support a business that’s expected to become a major growth engine for the company. In year one, the focus is squarely on U.S. product development. Over time, this role may expand to support, influence, and lead global platform coordination and innovation strategy. Note: This role is listed under Washington for posting purposes only. LinkedIn requires a specific location, but the search remains fully confidential until initial discussions. We’re seeking a U.S.-based leader who can focus on the Pacific Northwest and North America more broadly. Frequent travel will be expected, and relocation may be considered as the business grows. What You’ll Lead: End-to-end product development for the U.S. and broader North American market Concept creation, formulation, and commercialization of new food and nutrition products Packaging innovation, regulatory strategy, and the technical documentation needed to bring products to market with speed and compliance Customer co-development projects and external innovation partnerships Cross-functional alignment with Marketing, Sales, Supply Chain, Operations, and Procurement Ingredient sourcing and technical vendor strategy Building and leading a small, high-performing R&D team Coordination with global R&D functions on platform and process alignment What You Bring: 20+ years in product development, R&D, or innovation leadership Advanced degree highly preferred; PhD in food science, chemistry, or a related discipline strongly preferred, though equivalent experience in highly technical, leadership-heavy roles will be considered Significant R&D leadership experience in food, beverage, dairy, nutrition, or closely related consumable product categories Strong scientific foundation in food science, chemistry, or a related field Proven success developing and launching new products—from concept through regulatory clearance to commercial launch Demonstrated experience building teams and establishing innovation processes in manufacturing environments Familiarity with North American food and beverage regulatory standards, labeling, and documentation requirements Commercial fluency and experience working directly with sales, marketing, and key customers U.S.-based and open to frequent travel across North America (especially the Pacific Northwest) Compensation & Upside: This role includes a competitive base salary, performance-based bonus, and long-term equity participation. It’s built for a senior R&D leader with global experience who’s ready to build from the ground up—and help shape one of the company’s most important growth regions. This is a confidential retained search. Company details will be shared only after NDA is signed. We always respect candidate confidentiality. #J-18808-Ljbffr Murdoch Mason Executive Search Group