Research & Development Specialist

Research & Development Specialist - Food Manufacturing

Employment Type: Full-Time
Travel: Minimal to Moderate Travel as Required

Position Summary

We are seeking an innovative and results-driven Research & Development Specialist to join our food manufacturing team. This role is responsible for developing new refrigerated food products, optimizing existing formulations, and supporting commercialization efforts from concept through production. The ideal candidate combines strong food science knowledge with hands-on manufacturing experience and a passion for delivering high-quality products that meet consumer expectations and business objectives.

The R&D Specialist will work closely with Quality Assurance, Operations, Sales, Marketing, Purchasing, and Supply Chain teams to ensure successful product launches, continuous product improvement, and compliance with all regulatory and food safety requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and commercialize new refrigerated food products from concept to full-scale production.
• Formulate and optimize products to improve quality, functionality, shelf life, sensory attributes, and cost efficiency.
• Conduct bench-top, pilot, and commercial-scale product development trials.
• Lead plant trials and scale-up activities to ensure successful transfer from R&D to manufacturing.
• Evaluate ingredients, processing technologies, and packaging solutions to support innovation initiatives.
• Troubleshoot product and process challenges and recommend corrective actions.
• Create and maintain product specifications, ingredient statements, formulations, processing procedures, and technical documentation.
• Conduct product evaluations, sensory testing, shelf-life studies, and quality assessments.
• Analyze production data and identify opportunities for continuous improvement and cost reduction.
• Collaborate with Operations to ensure products can be efficiently and consistently manufactured.
• Partner with Purchasing and suppliers to identify alternative ingredients, cost-saving opportunities, and new technologies.
• Support customer requests, product modifications, and commercialization projects.
• Manage multiple development projects simultaneously while meeting established timelines and deliverables.
• Stay current on industry trends, emerging ingredients, processing advancements, and consumer preferences.

Regulatory & Food Safety Responsibilities

• Ensure all product development activities comply with applicable FDA, USDA, and state regulatory requirements.
• Maintain compliance with SQF, HACCP, GMP, and food safety standards.
• Support regulatory reviews, labeling requirements, and ingredient compliance initiatives.
• Participate in food safety, quality, and audit-related activities as required.
• Assist in maintaining documentation required for customer, regulatory, and third-party audits.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Chemistry, Biology, Chemical Engineering, or a related scientific discipline.
• 3+ years of product development or R&D experience in a food manufacturing environment.
• Experience developing refrigerated, fresh, or prepared food products.
• Strong knowledge of food formulation, ingredient functionality, food processing, and shelf-life principles.
• Experience conducting plant trials and supporting commercialization activities.
• Understanding of FDA, USDA, SQF, HACCP, and GMP requirements.
• Strong project management, problem-solving, and analytical skills.
• Ability to interpret technical data and translate findings into actionable recommendations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Food Science or a related field.
• Experience with deli, prepared foods, sauces, dressings, protein products, dairy, or refrigerated meal categories.
• Knowledge of nutrition labeling and regulatory compliance requirements.
• Experience with sensory evaluation and consumer testing methodologies.
• Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement principles.
• Experience working in SQF-certified manufacturing facilities.

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