Director of Technical Product Development (opens in new tab)

Nestlé S.A.; Solon (OH); On-site; USD 179,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k with company match

Healthcare coverage

Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP)

Annual bonus opportunities

Job summary

Nestlé’s R&D Center is a regional powerhouse for food, beverage, and health science, driving breakthrough innovations across a broad portfolio. This role leads pizza and dough-based snacking product development with a strong focus on technical excellence and strategic leadership.

You will guide teams from concept to launch, shape pipelines, and influence senior leadership with science-based solutions and market-driven insights.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Bakery Science, Food Engineering, or related technical discipline.
• 12+ years of progressive food industry R&D experience with dough-based products.
• 5+ years of people leadership experience.
• Proven track record leading product development from concept through commercialization.
• Experience with frozen foods, bakery, pizza, dough-based products, snacks, or adjacent categories.
• Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional teams in a complex matrix environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the innovation strategy for pizza and dough-based snack platforms.
• Identify emerging consumer trends, technologies, ingredients, and product opportunities.
• Guide projects from concept creation through commercialization and post-launch optimization.
• Lead and develop a team of product developers, food scientists, and chefs.
• Coach and develop future technical and people leaders.
• Provide technical leadership in dough systems, pizza technologies, frozen foods, ingredient functionality, and manufacturing processes.
• Establish technical standards and best practices across the organization.

Skills

R&D experience in food industry

People leadership

Product development leadership

Dough-based dough systems knowledge

Cross-functional leadership

Consumer-led innovation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Food Science/Bakery/related discipline

MS in Food Science or related field

Job description

Director of Technical Product Development

Nestlé’s Research & Development Center is our regional powerhouse driving innovation in food, beverage, and pharmaceutical science. Backed by our global Nestlé R&D organization, we lead breakthrough discoveries that are both good for consumers and the planet. Our team of experts range from product developers to engineers, working across our portfolio of food, beverage, infant nutrition, and health science to create leading-edge products and services. As part of our organization, you will use your entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to excellence to unlock the power of food and provide premium value.

This position is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship.

We are seeking a experienced Director of Technical Product Development to lead the innovation, development, and commercialization of pizza and dough-based snacking products across one of North America's largest and most iconic frozen food portfolios.

This role combines deep technical expertise with strategic leadership. The successful candidate will lead multidisciplinary product development teams, advance robust innovation pipelines from concept through launch, and deliver consumer-loved products that fuel business growth. As a key member of the R&D leadership team, this individual will help shape the future of the pizza and snacking category through breakthrough innovation, science-based solutions, and technology advancement.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop and execute the innovation strategy for pizza and dough-based snack platforms.


• Identify emerging consumer trends, technologies, ingredients, and product opportunities.


• Keep an eye on competitive activity and understand potential implications for our business


• Guide projects from concept creation through commercialization and post-launch optimization.

Build and Lead High-Performing Teams

• Lead and develop a team of product developers, food scientists, and chefs


• Create an environment that fosters creativity, collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning.


• Coach and develop future technical and people leaders.

Drive Technical Excellence

• Provide technical leadership in dough systems, pizza technologies, frozen foods, ingredient functionality, and manufacturing processes.


• Advance technical understanding of dough rheology, fermentation, baking systems, texture optimization, and shelf-life performance.


• Establish technical standards and best practices across the organization.

Influence Across the Enterprise

• Partner closely with Marketing, Consumer Insights, Operations, Supply Chain, Quality Assurance, Procurement, Packaging, Regulatory Affairs and Strategic Business Unit.


• Present recommendations and innovation strategies to senior leadership.


• Build strong internal and external networks, including suppliers, research institutions, and industry experts.

Deliver Business Results

• Translate business objectives into prioritized R&D roadmaps.


• Ensure projects meet targets for consumer preference, food safety, cost, quality, operational feasibility, and speed to market.


• Manage budgets, resources, and talent allocation across the portfolio.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Bakery Science, Food Engineering, or related technical discipline.


• 12+ years of progressive food industry R&D experience (must include development experience of dough based products)


• 5+ years of people leadership experience.


• Proven track record leading product development programs from concept through commercialization.


• Experience with frozen foods, bakery, pizza, dough-based products, snacks, or adjacent categories.


• Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional teams in a complex matrix environment.

Preferred

• Advanced degree (M.S) in Food Science or related field.


• Deep expertise in dough systems, fermentation, baking science, and texture optimization.


• Experience with large-scale food manufacturing and commercialization.


• Strong understanding of consumer-led innovation methodologies.


• Experience managing broad portfolios and multiple simultaneous development programs.

Leadership Success Profile

The ideal candidate is:

• A passionate food innovator who understands both consumers and technology.


• Equally comfortable discussing dough rheology with a scientist and business strategy with executives.


• A collaborative leader who develops people and builds strong partnerships.


• Curious, bold, and willing to challenge conventional thinking.


• Results-oriented with a strong bias for execution.

What You’ll Impact

You will lead the team responsible for creating the next generation of pizza and dough-based snacking experiences, helping millions of consumers enjoy products that combine exceptional taste, convenience, quality, and value.

Salary: $179,376.30 to$230,000.00 per year

Bonus Eligibility:Yes

The pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position at the time of posting. Final compensation may vary based on factors including but not limited to knowledge, skills and abilities as well as geographic location. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at top of range.

For Director-level positions and above, the total rewards package may also include participation in the Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) and annual bonus opportunities.

Nestlé offers performance-based incentives and a competitive total rewards package, which includes a 401k with company match, healthcare coverage and a broad range of other benefits. Incentives and/or benefit packages may vary depending on the position. Learn more at https://www.nestlejobs.com/nestle-in-the-us-benefits

It is our business imperative to remain a very inclusive workplace. To our veterans and separated service members, you're at the forefront of our minds as we recruit top talent to join Nestlé. The skills you've gained while serving our country, such as flexibility, agility, and leadership, are much like the skills that will make you successful in this role. In addition, with our commitment to an inclusive work environment, we recognize the exceptional engagement and innovation displayed by individuals with disabilities. Nestlé seeks such skilled and qualified individuals to share our mission where you’ll join a cohort of others who have chosen to call Nestlé home.

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