Director Product Research & Development

Rosemont, Illinois, United States | In-office Tuesday through Thursday;. Visa sponsorship and relocation are not available for this position. (Alternate location for the position could be at the University of Minnesota in St. Paul) People. Planet. Community. Dairy’s journey starts on the farm, and the road we travel demonstrates our unwavering commitment to sustainable nutrition, as our farmers provide lasting and meaningful nourishment to people, the planet and our communities, both urban and rural. We are a nonprofit organization located in the greater Chicagoland area and we're always looking for talented people to join our team who share the passion and motivation to promote the goodness of dairy. Position Overview The Director of Product Research at Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) will support product research and commercialization initiatives. This role involves collaboration with a diverse array of stakeholders, including universities within the dairy research network, academic researchers, the U.S. Dairy Export Council, the Wellness & Innovation team, and industry partners, in pursuit of both short- and long-term objectives. As a key contributor and technical resource, this individual will be instrumental in ensuring that project milestones are achieved. Furthermore, the incumbent will serve as a subject matter expert in food and dairy product science and technology, contributing to the identification of commercial opportunities that align with renovation and innovation strategies. Responsibilities: This position will act as a resident expert in fermentation & Biotechnology and will support the development and optimization of microbial fermentation processes and bio-based ingredient technologies for food and nutrition applications. This role will contribute to strain evaluation, fermentation process development, analytical characterization, and scale-up activities spanning laboratory through pilot-scale systems. Dairy Product R&D-Fermentation and Biotechnology Emphasis

• Design, execute, and analyze microbial fermentation experiments supporting ingredient, food, and biotechnology innovation initiatives
• Support development and optimization of fermentation processes including media optimization, process parameter evaluation, and scale-up activities
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including food scientists, process engineers, analytical scientists, and external partners
• Perform data analysis, interpret experimental results, and communicate findings through technical reports and presentations
• Support characterization of fermentation-derived materials using analytical and microbiological methods
• Maintain accurate experimental records and contribute to intellectual property, publications, and technical documentation as appropriate
• Stay informed on emerging technologies and trends in precision fermentation, biotechnology, and sustainable food systems
• Assist in the development, management, and execution of plans to commercialize research derived from DMI-funded programs. Work closely with university researchers to ensure scalability of research projects.
• Actively engage in hands-on activities within pilot plants, including process optimization and recipe development, to facilitate research scalability and support commercialization efforts.
• Contribute to identifying partners for scaling research from benchtop to pilot production, collaborating to optimize processes and ingredients.
• Collaborate with customers and DMI partners on ingredient scale-up and product launch initiatives.

DMI Product Research Strategy

• Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders, including dairy farmers, wellness and innovation teams, the U.S. Dairy Export Council, and dairy industry partners, as well as international partners, to support research opportunity identification.
• Gather input from stakeholders, including dairy farmers, DMI business units, regional organizations, dairy processors and suppliers, universities, and government bodies.
• Assist in preparing product research funding proposals and presentations for potential partners.
• Foster and maintain partnerships to enhance R&D investment in dairy foods research.
• Assist in designing and implementing targeted product research projects at universities and research laboratories.
• Support ongoing research programs by monitoring progress through the review of scientific and financial reports, manuscripts, abstracts, publications, and other outputs.
• Assist in managing intellectual property assets associated with product research.
• Work closely with the research center director to advance DMI's dairy foods research strategy.
• Technical Communications
• Communicate key research outcomes to farmers, staff, and member units to support strategic planning.
• Provide technical insights and facilitate the translation of research into actionable strategies to enhance the global competitiveness of U.S. dairy products.
• Assist in ensuring that program outcomes are communicated effectively to stakeholders.
• Contribute to the execution and activation of product research programs, including the development and dissemination of communication plans.
• Package research findings to facilitate technology transfer and activation by industry partners.
• Present research findings and technical information at scientific conferences and trade meetings.
• Advocate for scientific research supporting dairy products by representing the dairy industry at scientific forums and reviewing communications for technical accuracy.

Minimum Qualifications: Education & Experience: PhD in Microbiology, Biotechnology, Biochemical Engineering, Food Science, Chemical Engineering, Synthetic Biology, Molecular Biology, or related field with 2–3 years of relevant experience Relevant industry experience R&D, and commercialization of food or dairy products and ingredients. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: The ideal candidate will possess advanced skills in collaboration, technical communication, and effective presentation, coupled with the ability to work cohesively with diverse teams. The candidate should demonstrate expertise in research design, statistical analysis, and interpretation of scientific findings, paired with strategic thinking and business acumen. A strong work ethic, integrity, and a commitment to representing farmer values are essential attributes for this role. New Hire Salary Range--$100,000-$125,000 annually. This is a salary range that DMI believes, at the time of this posting, that it might be willing to pay for the posted job in the location specified. We know that in order to meet our goal of growing dairy demand, we need the best people. We offer competitive compensation and generous benefits to help our employees balance their work and personal lives. Our office is conveniently located, taking less than 10 minutes to walk from CTA's Blue Line Rosemont station (or you can hop on the free, Riverway, shuttle). We offer regular and chocolate milk on tap. Our comprehensive health and welfare plans offer medical, dental, vision, legal, paid parental leave, life insurance, short-term and long-term disability and flexible spending accounts (health care, dependent care, transit and parking). Our 401k provides up to a 10% match and includes a Roth account. DMI reserves the right to change or end its benefits plans or programs at any time. Dairy Management Inc.™ is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, ethnicity, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We regret it is not possible to communicate with candidates except those who most closely match our requirements. Thank you.