Food Product Development Specialist

Cleveland Kitchen; Cleveland (OH); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Cleveland Kitchen in Cleveland, OH is seeking a hands-on Food Product Development Specialist to drive new products from concept to commercialization in a small, fast-paced team.

You will lead formulation, prototyping, and scale-up, collaborate with Operations, Quality, Marketing, and Sales, and ensure cost targets while maintaining regulatory and quality standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science or related field.
• 1-5 years in product development; CPG/food is a plus.
• Strong problem-solving with bias toward action.
• Ability to manage multiple projects in a lean, fast-moving environment.
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational and documentation skills.
• Comfortable working independently and across teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support end-to-end product development from ideation to commercialization.
• Formulate, prototype, and iterate products based on goals and consumer feedback.
• Collaborate with Operations, Quality, Marketing, and Sales to ensure launches.
• Source ingredients and suppliers aligned with cost and quality targets.
• Conduct bench trials, plant trials, and scale-ups; ensure feasibility.
• Maintain documentation including formulas, specs, and procedures.
• Ensure regulatory, food safety, and quality standards.

Skills

Product development

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem solving

Project management

Documentation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Food Science or related field

Job description

Job Description: Food Product Development Specialist

We are seeking a hands-on, entrepreneurial Food Product Development Specialist to support the creation, refinement, and launch of new products. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, small-team environment where creativity, ownership, and cross-functional collaboration are essential. You will play a key role in bringing ideas from concept to commercialization while balancing speed, quality, and cost.

Position Summary

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and support the end-to-end product development process, from ideation through commercialization
• Formulate, prototype, and iterate products based on internal goals and consumer feedback
• Collaborate closely with Operations, Quality, Marketing, and Sales to ensure successful product launches
• Source and evaluate ingredients, materials, and suppliers aligned with cost and quality targets
• Conduct bench trials, plant trials, and scale-ups, ensuring consistency and feasibility
• Maintain accurate documentation including formulas, specs, and process procedures
• Ensure products meet regulatory, food safety, and quality standards (as applicable)
• Assist in continuous improvement of existing products (cost savings, quality, innovation)
• Stay current on industry trends, competitive products, and emerging technologies
• Willing and able to build and standardization (SOPs, Work Instructions, One-Point Lessons, etc.)

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Product Development, Chemistry, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 1-5 years of experience in product development or a related role (CPG or food preferred, but not required depending on company)
• Strong problem-solving skills with a bias toward action and iteration
• Ability to manage multiple projects in a lean, fast-moving environment
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational and documentation skills
• Comfortable working both independently and collaboratively across teams

What Makes This Role Unique:

• High visibility and direct impact on the business
• Opportunity to own projects end-to-end, not just a one-step process
• Work closely with leadership and influence product direction
• Less bureaucracy, more speed and creativity
• Ability to wear multiple hats and grow with the company

Preferred Traits

• Entrepreneurial mindset and adaptability
• Passion for building and improving products
• Strong communication skills across technical and non-technical teams