Director, Disruptive Innovation (Cheese)

Job Description

Within our Corporate Cheese Research and Innovation team located in Denver, Leprino is seeking a Director, Disruptive Innovation to help shape the future of dairy manufacturing science and technology. This role leads the development of innovation strategies and technical solutions that create long-term competitive advantages across our cheese business, with a focus on reducing manufacturing costs, improving ingredient functionality, advancing process performance, and expanding the capabilities of large-scale dairy production systems. You’ll work alongside a highly technical team with deep expertise across cheese science, manufacturing, and process technology while helping identify, evaluate, and develop new ideas that challenge traditional industry methods. The role partners closely with engineering, operations, technical services, and R&D teams to move innovative concepts into practical manufacturing solutions. The strongest candidates will combine technical depth with strategic leadership and bring experience building innovation roadmaps that create measurable value for the organization.

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At Leprino, starting compensation for this role typically ranges between $200,000 and $238,000. This position has an annual target bonus of 25% .

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What You’ll Do:

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• Build and advance new cheese manufacturing technologies that create long-term structural advantages in cost, throughput, ingredients, process capability, and capacity planning.
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• Research and evaluate emerging dairy processing methods, equipment, ingredients, and manufacturing approaches that are new to Leprino or entirely new to the industry.
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• Develop and guide short- and long-term innovation strategies that support large-scale mozzarella and cheese manufacturing across a global production network.
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• Partner closely with operations, technical services, food safety, engineering, and R&D teams to move innovative concepts from early-stage evaluation into plant application.
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• Guide technical innovation initiatives tied to manufacturing efficiency, process performance, product functionality, and operational reliability.
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• Coordinate external partnerships with universities, research centers, equipment manufacturers, startups, and technical innovators across the dairy industry.
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• Support intellectual property development, open-source innovation reviews, and technical assessments tied to future manufacturing capabilities.
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• Lead cross-functional project teams focused on solving difficult manufacturing and processing challenges. This role is centered on manufacturing innovation and process technology, not consumer product commercialization!
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• Review technical risks tied to regulatory requirements, food safety standards, and operational feasibility during innovation development activities.
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• Help shape long-range innovation priorities for Leprino’s cheese business through technical research, plant collaboration, industry engagement, and strategic planning.
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• Mentor scientists and technical professionals while building strong collaborative relationships across global teams.
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• Travel domestically and internationally to manufacturing facilities, technical partners, and innovation centers to evaluate emerging technologies and strengthen industry partnerships!
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You Have At Least (Required Qualifications):

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• A Master’s degree in Dairy Science, Food Science, Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering, Microbiology, Chemistry, or another closely related technical field.
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• 12 years of senior-level technical experience within a large food or manufacturing organization supporting process technology, manufacturing innovation, product functionality, or technical operations.
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• Experience developing short- and long-term innovation strategies that create measurable organizational value.
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• Proven experience developing and implementing innovative strategies that deliver increased value to an organization.
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• Experience leading technical innovation initiatives that involve cross-functional coordination across operations, engineering, quality, R&D, or manufacturing leadership teams.
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• Knowledge of dairy chemistry, dairy proteins, dairy carbohydrates, cheese manufacturing systems, process improvement methods, and food safety standards.
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• Experience evaluating or implementing new manufacturing technologies, ingredients, processing systems, or production methodologies.
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• Experience with StageGate and project management principles.
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• A willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally up to approximately 40% of the time.
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We Hope You Also Have (Preferred Qualifications):

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• A Ph.D. in Dairy Science, Dairy Chemistry, Food Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related technical field.
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• 15 years of technical leadership experience within a large-scale global dairy or food manufacturing organization.
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• Experience supporting dairy or cheese manufacturing environments with a business-to-business product focus.
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• Experience working with intellectual property strategy, external research partnerships, or technical innovation programs tied to food manufacturing.
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• Experience supporting international operations, acquisition integrations, or multi-region manufacturing environments.
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At Leprino, we believe in equal employment opportunity and make employment decisions based on each individual’s unique talents, experience, skills, and knowledge; we do not discriminate on the basis of any personal characteristics. We know we are better together and are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive culture in which all employees can thrive.

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Offering You In Return:

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A chance to be part of a global team of individuals passionate about producing and delivering high-quality products that help feed and nourish families around the world. Leprino could not be where it is today without our incredible employees. That is why we share in our success together by rewarding you for your hard work. Hiring great people who are in it for the long run is our goal. Through competitive salaries and bonuses, life, medical/dental/vision coverage, voluntary benefits, employee assistance programs, wellness incentives, tuition assistance, vacation, ten paid holidays, sick time, paid parental leave, annual merit increases, as well as the LFC Profit-Sharing & 401(k) plan. Your impact will be noticed and rewarded, as you seek to further our company, our customers, and one another.

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Our Story:

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Leprino’s history dates back to the 1950s, when Jim Leprino first started making small batches of mozzarella for local markets and eateries in the Little Italy neighborhood of Denver. We’ve grown a bit since then. Today, Leprino is the world’s largest manufacturer of mozzarella and lactose, and a leading producer of whey protein. Still owned by Jim and the Leprino family, our sights are set to be the “World’s Best Dairy Food and Ingredient Company.” From a small corner grocery store we have grown to over 5,500 employees throughout the globe. Will you join us on our journey?

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Learn more at Leprino.com

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While we review LinkedIn Easy Apply submissions and may reach out for an initial conversation, they are considered an inquiry rather than an official application. To be formally considered for this position, please apply directly at careers.leprino.com.