Manager, Research & Development

The J.M. Smucker Company; United States; Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

The J. M. Smucker Co.

invites applications for a Manager, Pet Research & Development, responsible for leading a high-performing hybrid team of product developers and engineers focused on Soft & Chewy Dog Snacks. Location is Orrville, Ohio with hybrid work arrangements, requiring 50%+ in-office work and ~20% travel annually. You will lead and develop R&D professionals, translate consumer needs into objectives, and guide formulation, processing, and product development with cross-functional

Qualifications

• BS, MS or Ph.D in Food Science, Engineering, or related field
• 7+ years of relevant experience in R&D or Technical Services in the Food Industry
• Experience in Extrusion, Baking, or Dehydration processes
• Strong collaboration skills and experience partnering internally and externally
• Ability to effectively communicate complex ideas to stakeholders

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of R&D product developers and process engineers
• Translate consumer and project needs to objectives and success criteria
• Build and coach the development of direct reports on technologies and methods
• Influence projects and business partners with data-driven guidance
• Manage priorities, resources, and expectations to deliver objectives

Skills

Leadership

Team management

R&D strategy

Data-driven decision making

Communication skills

Education

BS in Food Science/Engineering

MS or PhD in Food Science/Engineering

Tools

Extrusion

Baking

Dehydration

Job description

Your Opportunity as the Manager, Pet Research & Development Responsible for managing and leading a high performing hybrid team of product developers and engineers for our Soft & Chewy Dog Snacks.

Location: Orrville, OH. Work Arrangements: hybrid, 50% or more in office expectations with 20% travel anually.

In this role you will:

Lead and develop a team of R&D product developers and process engineers at various levels to deliver & launch new product initiatives and refining existing products and processes focused primarily on Soft & Chewy Dog Snacks. Translate consumers’, customers’, and projects’ needs to objectives, learning plan and success criteria. Build, coach, and support the development of direct reports on technologies, tools, methods, and approaches for formulation and process development, validation and qualification. This includes, but not limited to: Technical Learning Plan, Experimental Design, Product Brief, Technical Readiness, Product Specifications, Process Capability, etc.

Leverage mastery of Food Science and Food Processing technologies to influence, inform & guide projects and business partners (internal and external).

Build strong, collaborative relationships within Pet R&D and with cross-functional partners (Packaging, Analytical, Quality, Co-man, Operations, TSO, Brand, Innovation, Regulatory/Legal, Finance, etc).

Influence & guide stakeholders utilizing data to drive recommendations.

Understand Pet R&D and Enterprise-wide strategy to anticipate challenges and proactively develop mitigation plans to address.

Determine priorities, define the work, manage resource allocation, and set expectations for team members to deliver against the business and Pet R&D objectives.

Take ownership of decisions and broad implications.

Appropriately challenge decisions and take calculated risks within own decision‑making authority to improve performance, utilizing various types of data/inputs.

What we are looking for:

Minimum requirements:

• BS, MS or Ph.D in Food Science, Engineering, or related field
• 7+ years of relevant experience in R&D or Technical Services in the Food Industry
• Experience in Extrusion, Baking, or Dehydration processes
• Strong collaboration skills and experience partnering internally and externally
• Ability to effectively communicate, verbally and in writing, complex ideas to a variety of stakeholders both internal and external to the Company
• Ability to thrive in a changing and fast‑paced environment, managing multiple projects simultaneously
• Willing to embrace changing business priorities and ambiguity
• Strong leadership skills and demonstrated skills in critical thinking, scientific methods, and analysis/interpretation of data
• Ability to prioritize projects and resources
• Up to 20% Travel required #LI-KK1 #INSDA

The Right Place for You

We are bold, kind, strive to do the right thing, we play to win, and we believe in a strong community that thrives together. Our culture is rooted in our Basic Beliefs, and we believe in supporting every employee by meeting their physical, emotional, and financial needs. Stay connected with us on LinkedIn®

We're an equal opportunity employer.

All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, age, national origin, disability status or protected veteran status.

The J. M. Smucker Co. (the “Company”) is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

No person will be discriminated against in hiring or in any other aspect of their employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, transgender status, marital status, familial status, disability, genetic information, protected veteran/military status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local law.

We’re a community of passionate, talented professionals dedicated to creating food people and pets love – while supporting the communities in which we work and live. We value what makes each person unique, champion growth and development, and foster collaboration that fuels productivity and drives our shared success. Learn more about our Thrive Together purpose At Smucker, we're passionate about creating a workplace where you truly belong. With a culture rooted in our Basic Beliefs and a competitive Total Rewards program, we aim to support every employee by meeting their physical, emotional, and financial needs. Learn more about working at Smucker Our culture is sustained and brought to life every day by the people of Smucker and our hiring process is designed to identify the right candidate for every position at our company. Learn more about our hiring process