Manager, Technical Applications

Grande Cheese Company; Fond du Lac (WI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Grande Cheese Company in Fond du Lac, WI, seeks a Manager, Technical Applications to lead development of innovative dairy ingredient solutions. You will guide Applications Scientists, partner with Product Development, Sales, and Marketing, and translate technical expertise into commercial success.

The role requires strong leadership, deep dairy-focused product development experience, and ability to drive cross-functional projects with customers, with travel up to 30%.

Qualifications

• 4 Year / Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing, Business, or related field required.
• Six (6) or more years of experience in food product development, preferably with dairy or functional ingredients, or ingredient application.
• Experience managing technical teams and their performance through a performance management process.
• Successful management of a technical project portfolio to deliver sales success.

Responsibilities

• Lead a high‑performing team and foster collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Drive application development and commercialization efforts, partnering with R&D to evaluate and optimize ingredient performance.
• Serve as a trusted technical resource for customers and internal teams, providing solutions, training, and support that drive business growth.
• Manage strategic projects and application initiatives that expand market opportunities and support growth domestically and internationally.

Skills

Food product development

Team management

Project portfolio management

Communication skills

Microsoft Office

Willingness to travel

Education

Bachelor's degree in Marketing/Business

Master's degree in Food Science or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

With more than 80 years of crafting “The Finest Italian Cheeses Money Can Buy”, Grande is a leader in the industry! Whether partnering with independent pizzerias from coast-to-coast to ensure they’re delivering the very best pizza to their customers or assisting our food manufacturing partners in delivering specialty whey ingredient solutions, our commitment to quality can’t be matched. While Grande’s reputation of excellence in the market is important, we believe our commitment to our workplace and community culture is of equal merit – our Associates come first at Grande. To complement our industry-leading benefits, Grande puts an emphasis on your career growth opportunities, while always promoting a positive work/life balance and supporting the communities in which we live and work. If you want to learn more about our company – what we do and how we go about it – or learn more about our beautiful, state-of-the‑art corporate headquarters, visit www.grande.com .

• Low-cost onsite clinics.
• Free onsite fitness center.
• Free healthy snacks throughout facility.
• Health and wellness reimbursement program.
• Relaxation rooms (based on location).
• Coffee and gelato bar (based on location).

In Fond du Lac (FDL) you get the full four‑season experience – warm in the summer with highs reaching into the 80s and plenty of sunshine for golf, biking, camping and live music under the open sky, and brisk air in the winter with average temps in the 20s and ample snow for snowmobiling, cross‑country skiing, ice fishing and winter festivals. The greater FDL area (population 43,000) is easy to get around and roughly an hour drive to almost all major metros in the state (Milwaukee, Madison and Fox Cities/Green Bay). We’ve been rated “Top 100” in job growth among small U.S. metro areas. Additionally, our cost of living is 4% below the national average and you’ll pay 21% less for housing, rent and property taxes compared to the rest of the country. From wonderful educational partners (public and private K12 schools and three local colleges/universities), a plethora of things to do/see, and a vibrant business and commerce community…learn more about how you can call Fond du Lac, HOME!

Job Summary

Join our team as a Manager, Technical Applications, where you'll lead the development of innovative food and beverage solutions using value‑added functional ingredients. In this highly collaborative, customer‑facing role, you'll guide a team of Applications Scientists, partner with Product Development, Sales, and Marketing, and help translate technical expertise into commercial success. This is an exciting opportunity for a strategic leader who thrives on innovation, enjoys solving customer challenges, and is passionate about bringing new ingredient solutions to market.

• Lead and develop a high‑performing team while fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Drive application development and commercialization efforts, partnering closely with R&D to evaluate and optimize ingredient performance.
• Serve as a trusted technical resource for customers and internal teams, providing solutions, training, and support that drive business growth.
• Manage strategic projects and application initiatives that expand market opportunities and support growth across domestic and international markets.

What you need to be considered for the role:

• 4 Year / Bachelors Degree in Marketing, Business, or related field required.
• Six (6) or more years of experience in food product development, preferably with dairy or functional ingredients, or ingredient application.
• Experience managing technical teams and their performance through a performance management process.
• Successful management of a technical project portfolio to deliver sales success.
• Ability to lead and conduct application research and development activities.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment in clarifying and prioritizing tasks to facilitate team decision making.
• In-depth scientific and technical skills and knowledge (microbiology, chemistry, statistics, biology, sensory science, food science, dairy science, biochemistry).
• Effective writing, presentation, interpersonal and communication skills as it relates to insight generation and sales activity.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents.
• Demonstrated ability to understand and discuss technical product information with customer R&D teams.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain customer relationships both internally and externally.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams, build positive relationships and offer guidance.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate cross‑functionally in support of business and customer
  priorities.
• Ability to make timely effective decisions and keep projects on track.
• Ability / willingness to travel 30% of the time.

Preferred:

• Master's Degree in Food Science or related field preferred.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.