Global Dairy Ingredients R&D Director & Strategy Lead

Land O'Lakes, Inc.; Arden Hills (MN); On-site; USD 188,000 - 282,000; Full time

Job summary

Land O’Lakes is seeking a dynamic R&D Director for Global Dairy Ingredients (GDI) to set technical strategy and lead product development across our dairy-based seasonings, ingredients, and dairy proteins. You will translate customer needs into scalable solutions, build capabilities, and guide R&D toward growth in high-value dairy ingredients.

The role requires senior leadership with 15+ years in R&D, strong B2B customer presence, and deep expertise in dairy proteins, spray drying,

Qualifications

• MS in Food/Dairy Science, Chemistry, or Chemical Engineering is required.
• 15+ years of progressive R&D, product development, and leadership in food/dairy/ingredients.
• Direct experience with dairy proteins, spray drying, and membrane filtration strongly preferred.
• Proven leadership of teams and ability to translate technical concepts into business value.
• Ability to manage complex portfolios, lead cross-functional teams, and make decisions under time pressure.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end B2B product development across dairy-based seasonings and ingredients.
• Own the GDI product development strategy and roadmap with clear prioritization.
• Lead, coach, and develop managers, scientists, and technical contributors.
• Partner with Sales, Marketing, Manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory, and Supply Chain for fast decisions and smooth handoffs.
• Develop external partnerships to accelerate capability building and close technical gaps.

Skills

R&D leadership

B2B customer presence

Portfolio management

Education

MS in Food/Dairy Science

PhD or MBA preferred

Job description

Land O’Lakes is seeking a dynamic R&D Director for Global Dairy Ingredients (GDI) to set technical strategy and lead product development across our dairy-based seasonings, ingredients, and dairy proteins. You will translate customer needs into scalable solutions, build capabilities, and guide R&D toward growth in high-value dairy ingredients.

The role requires senior leadership with 15+ years in R&D, strong B2B customer presence, and deep expertise in dairy proteins, spray drying,