Director of Product Development

There has never been a more exciting time to join Request Foods. We’ve been selling products to many of the world’s leading food companies, retailers and restaurants for over 35 years. A privately owned and financially sound company, we do our best to run our business based on Christian values. Whether it’s cooking up great tasting food, assisting in customer support, providing quality and production leadership, or supporting administrative or technical activities, a career at Request Foods is a great opportunity. At Request, we’ve achieved success by treating our employees with integrity, trust and respect. If you’re passionate about food, and the people who help produce it, then Request Foods might just be for you.

Request Foods is seeking a Director of Product Development that provides strategic and operational leadership for the end‑to‑end development, commercialization, and lifecycle management of frozen food products. This role oversees culinary innovation, food science, packaging engineering, and labeling & regulatory compliance, ensuring that products are innovative, manufacturable, compliant, and aligned with customer and business objectives. The Director leads a multidisciplinary team of culinary chefs, food scientists, packaging engineers, and regulatory/labeling professionals, serving as the primary cross‑functional partner to Operations, Quality & Food Safety, Engineering, Sales, and Supply Chain. Success in this role requires a balance of culinary creativity, technical rigor, regulatory expertise, and disciplined execution within a highly regulated manufacturing environment.

Essential Responsibilities:

Product Development & Innovation Leadership

• Define and execute the product development strategy to support customer growth, innovation pipelines, and operational capabilities.
• Lead new product development from concept through commercialization, ensuring products are scalable, cost‑effective, and operationally ready.
• Partner with Sales and customers to translate concepts, briefs, and market needs into executable product solutions.
• Maintain ownership of product specifications, formulas, and documentation throughout the product lifecycle.

Culinary & Food Science Oversight

• Lead and develop a team of culinary chefs and food scientists responsible for formulation, benchtop development, plant trials, and commercialization support.
• Ensure products meet taste, texture, appearance, and quality expectations while maintaining food safety and cost targets.
• Support plant troubleshooting, reformulations, and continuous improvement initiatives for existing products.

Packaging Engineering Leadership

• Provide strategic oversight of packaging engineering activities, including material selection, line compatibility, shelf life, and performance testing.
• Ensure packaging solutions meet customer requirements, manufacturing capabilities, sustainability goals, and regulatory standards.
• Partner with Operations and Engineering to support packaging trials, line validations, and equipment compatibility.

Labeling & Regulatory Compliance

• Oversee labeling and regulatory compliance across all products, ensuring adherence to USDA, FDA, and customer‑specific requirements.
• Ensure accurate nutritional labeling, ingredient statements, allergen declarations, and claims substantiation.
• Stay current with regulatory changes and proactively assess impact to products, packaging, and documentation.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Serve as a key interface between Product Development, Quality, Food Safety, Operations, Engineering, and Supply Chain.
• Ensure smooth handoff from development to manufacturing with clear documentation, training, and operational readiness.
• Support customer audits, technical reviews, and commercialization milestones.

People Leadership & Development

• Build, lead, and mentor high‑performing teams across culinary, food science, packaging, and regulatory disciplines.
• Establish clear performance expectations, development plans, and succession strategies.
• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Financial & Portfolio Management

• Manage the Product Development budget, including labor, ingredients, trials, and capital support.
• Prioritize the product development portfolio to maximize ROI, capacity alignment, and strategic impact.
• Track key metrics related to speed‑to‑market, commercialization success, and product performance.

Key Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Culinary Arts, Food Technology, or related discipline.
• 15+ years of progressive experience in product development within food manufacturing, preferably frozen foods.
• Proven leadership experience managing multidisciplinary teams (culinary, food science, packaging, regulatory).
• Strong understanding of USDA/FDA regulations, labeling requirements, and food safety systems.
• Demonstrated success leading commercialization in a high‑volume manufacturing environment.
• Advanced degree in Food Science or related field.
• Experience in co‑manufacturing or customer‑driven product development models.
• Familiarity with ERP systems, BOM management, and commercialization workflows.

Core Competencies:

• Strategic innovation and execution
• Regulatory and labeling expertise
• Culinary and technical credibility
• Cross‑functional influence
• Financial and portfolio management
• People development and change leadership

Benefits and Perks:

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• 401k
• Paid Paternity Leave
• Wellbeing programs
• Immediate Holiday Pay
• Paid Time Off
• Profit Sharing