Pet Food R&D Lead: Formulation & Trials

Alliance Consumer Growth, LLC; Topeka (KS); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited vacation

Generous holidays

401K with employer match

Pet-friendly office

Volunteer time off

Job summary

The Honest Kitchen in Topeka, KS is seeking an R&D Manager to lead development, optimization, and commercialization of pet food formulations across our portfolio. You will translate briefs into validated formulations and manage the full project lifecycle from bench prototype to plant trial and launch.

You will collaborate with cross-functional teams, ensure on-cost and on-spec product delivery, and support regulatory compliance with AAFCO, FDA, and NASC guidelines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field.
• 3–5 years hands-on product development experience.
• Experience with co-manufacturers and multi-project leadership.
• Familiarity with AAFCO, FDA, USDA-APHIS, FSMA, NASC.

Responsibilities

• Develop and refine formulations for new SKUs and optimization projects.
• Plan and execute bench-top and plant trials with cross-functional teams.
• Manage multiple projects from brief to launch and escalate risks as needed.
• Collaborate with Marketing, Procurement, Quality, Regulatory, and Operations.

Skills

Formulation development

Plant trial execution

Cross-functional collaboration

Regulatory compliance

Project management

Analytical skills

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Animal Science, Meat Science, Food Engineering, or related field

Job description

The Honest Kitchen in Topeka, KS is seeking an R&D Manager to lead development, optimization, and commercialization of pet food formulations across our portfolio. You will translate briefs into validated formulations and manage the full project lifecycle from bench prototype to plant trial and launch.

You will collaborate with cross-functional teams, ensure on-cost and on-spec product delivery, and support regulatory compliance with AAFCO, FDA, and NASC guidelines.