Industrial R&D Statistics & Experimentation Manager

General Mills Inc.; United States; On-site; USD 129,000 - 193,000; Full time

Job summary

General Mills is seeking an R&D Manager of Industrial Statistics and Experimentation to lead a team of five statisticians and data scientists within our global R&D organization. This player/coach role balances people development with hands-on project leadership, embedding statistical rigor across product and process development.

You will partner with Product Development, Process Development, Quality, and Operations, driving DOE-centric experimentation, end-to-end design, and data-driven

Qualifications

• Master's degree in statistics or related quantitative field.
• 8+ years of applied/industrial statistics experience in R&D or product/process development.
• 2+ years of people leadership, with matrixed collaboration.
• Strong DOE and modeling experience (ANOVA/regression/GLM; mixed models).
• Proficiency with JMP/Minitab and R or Python.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and influence a high-impact team.
• Set standards for engagement and operating rhythms across the team.
• Guide end-to-end Design of Experiments strategy (DOE) and full-cycle experimentation.
• Oversee analyses using ANOVA/regression/GLM; apply multivariate methods.
• Translate complex statistical findings into actionable cross-functional recommendations.

Skills

Leadership

DOE expertise

Statistical modeling

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Master's Degree in Statistics or related field

Ph.D. in Statistics or related field

Tools

JMP

Minitab

R

Python

Job description

COMPANY OVERVIEW

We exist to make food the world loves. But we do more than that. Our company is a place that prioritizes being a force for good, a place to expand learning, explore new perspectives and reimagine new possibilities, every day. We look for people who want to bring their best — bold thinkers with big hearts who challenge one another and grow together. Because becoming the undisputed leader in food means surrounding ourselves with people who are hungry for what’s next.

JOB OVERVIEW

We’re hiring an R&D Manager of Industrial Statistics and Experimentation to lead a team of 5 statisticians and data scientists within our global R&D organization. This is a player/coach role: you’ll guide and develop people, set standards for experimentation, and personally lead high-impact projects that accelerate product and process development. Beyond leading your team, you will be a key influencer across the R&D organization. You’ll be a core partner to Product Development, Process Development, Quality, and Operations, using your credibility and business acumen to embed statistical rigor in how we innovate, design experiments, and make decisions that will drive us to more efficient and effective R&D outcomes. Success in this role requires a leader who can drive results through technical expertise and partnership.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Lead, Coach, and Influence
• Manage and develop a high-impact team: Lead, coach, and inspire your team through clear priorities and strong operating rhythms.
• Use General Mills’ talent processes to manage performance, develop skills, build long-term career growth, and foster a culture of continuous learning and innovation.
• Partner to Drive ITQ results: Partner across R&D and leverage your statistical expertise and business insight to influence technical strategy and decision-making in a matrixed environment to accelerate product development and improve product robustness.
• ITQ Influencer: Builds trust and alignment through credibility and clear communication, driving decisions without direct authority.
• Set clear standards for engagement: Proactively establish and communicate clear ways of working for your team, ensuring team members know how to engage effectively with stakeholders to get the best results and build strong partnerships across ITQ.
• Own R&D Experimentation Excellence (DOE is central) Lead end-to-end Design of Experiments strategy: Guide the team on full-cycle experimentation, from screening and optimization to robustness and confirmation.
• Select practical, fit-for-purpose designs: Choose the right experimental approach under real-world constraints (e.g., limited runs, pilot capacity, cost, split-plot designs).
• Standardize experimentation best practices: Own and promote the use of experiment charters, clear decision rules, and consistent analysis and reporting standards.
• Deliver Decision-Ready Analytics Apply and guide advanced modeling: Oversee and apply approaches including ANOVA/regression/GLM and mixed models, ensuring sound diagnostics and interpretation.
• Solve complex, correlated problems: Use multivariate methods (e.g., PCA/PLS) to uncover the true drivers of product and process performance.
• Translate findings into action: Convert complex statistical findings into clear, actionable recommendations for cross-functional partners—what we learned, what it means, and what we do next to drive meaningful impact.
• Build Capability Across R&D Train and coach R&D teams: Improve DOE literacy and interpretation skills across the organization through targeted training and coaching, fostering a data-driven culture within R&D.
• Create reusable assets: Develop templates, playbooks, and analysis scripts that scale learning, improve consistency, and drive efficiency.
• Strengthen data and measurement discipline: Proactively partner with teams to improve data quality and measurement systems (repeatability, method readiness), ensuring analyses are traceable and reproducible.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

Faster development cycles through better experiment strategy and fewer iteration loops. More robust products and processes with fewer late-stage surprises. Higher-quality decisions through standardized DOE and analysis practices. A stronger R&D experimentation culture through your training and coaching.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's Degree in Statistics, Applied Statistics, Data Science, Industrial Engineering, or a related quantitative field
• 8+ years of applied / Industrial statistics experience in R&D, product/process development, or an industrial setting.
• 2+ years of people leadership experience, with a demonstrated ability to develop talent and manage team performance.
• A strong track record of influencing in a matrixed organization.
• Demonstrated, hands‑on expertise in Design of Experiments (DOE) and applied modeling (ANOVA/regression/GLM; mixed models).
• Proficiency with common statistical tools such as JMP and/or Minitab, plus R or Python.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Ph.D. in Statistics, Applied Statistics, Data Science, Industrial Engineering, or a related quantitative field
• Experience working in a consumer packaged goods or food manufacturing organization
• Experience designing or analyzing sensory or consumer studies
• Experience building reusable templates, automated analysis workflows, or lightweight tools/dashboards
• Six Sigma Black Belt or Master Black Belt

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

Applicants for this position must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full‑time basis, and General Mills will not sponsor applicants for this position for work visas. This role is open to relocation to the Minneapolis, MN market, but international relocation and remote assignments will not be considered.

SALARY RANGE

The salary range for this position is: $128,900 - $193,400 Annual At General Mills we strive for each employee's pay at any point in their career to reflect their experiences performance and skills for their current role. The salary range for this role represents the numerous factors considered in the hiring decisions including, but not limited to, educations, skills, work experience, certifications, etc. As such, pay for the successful candidate(s) could fall anywhere within the stated range. Beyond base salary, General Mills offers a competitive Total Rewards package focusing on your overall well‑being. We are proud to offer a foundation of health benefits, retirement and financial wellbeing, time off programs, wellbeing support and perks. Benefits may vary by role, country, region, union status, and other employment status factors. You may also be eligible to participate in an annual incentive program. An incentive award, if any, depends on various factors, including, individual and organizational performance.

ELIGIBILITY

Applicants must meet a minimum 18-year age qualification.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER (EOE)

General Mills is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital or familial status, status regarding public assistance, or membership or activity in a local human rights commission.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION REQUEST

If you need to request an accommodation during the application or hiring process, please fill out our online accommodation request form by following this link: Accommodation Request.