Director Product Research & Development

Illinois Ag; Illinois; On-site; USD 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Paid parental leave

401k with up to 10% match

Job summary

Dairy Management Inc. seeks a Director of Product Research to lead product research and commercialization initiatives. The role involves collaboration with various partners and universities to identify commercial opportunities in dairy innovation.

The ideal candidate will have a PhD in a relevant field and experience in R&D. A salary range of $100,000-$125,000 is offered along with a competitive benefits package, including health insurance and a 401k plan.

Qualifications

• 2-3 years relevant experience in R&D and commercialization of food or dairy products.
• Demonstrated expertise in research design and statistical analysis.

Responsibilities

• Support development and optimization of microbial fermentation processes.
• Design and execute microbial fermentation experiments for food innovation.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and external partners.
• Communicate technical findings through reports and presentations.
• Assist in commercialization of research initiatives.

Skills

Collaborative skills

Technical communication

Presentation skills

Statistical analysis

Research design

Education

PhD in Microbiology, Biotechnology, or related field

Job description

Description

Location: Rosemont, Illinois, United States (In-office Tuesday through Thursday). Visa sponsorship and relocation not available.

Alternate location: University of Minnesota in St. Paul.

People. Planet. Community.

Position Overview

The Director of Product Research at Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) will support product research and commercialization initiatives. This role involves collaboration with 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, and 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. The role will contribute to strain evaluation, fermentation process development, analytical characterization, and scale‑up activities spanning laboratory through pilot‑scale systems.

• 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, working closely with university researchers to ensure scalability.
• 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.

Requirements

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 in 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.

Benefits

We offer competitive compensation and generous benefits to help employees balance work and personal lives. The benefits package includes 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.

Equal Employment Opportunity

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.