R&D Coordinator

Pacific American Fish Company (PAFCO); Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

401k

Life insurance

LTD

FSA

Job summary

Pacific American Fish Company (PAFCO) is seeking an R&D Coordinator in Vernon, CA to support product development, reformulation, and commercialization within our seafood manufacturing environment.

You will coordinate trials, manage documentation, ensure regulatory compliance, and collaborate with QA, Production, Procurement, and Sales to bring new and improved seafood products to market.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science or related field is preferred (or work experience).
• 1–3 years of experience in food manufacturing; seafood experience preferred.
• Experience with seafood HACCP and FDA regulations is required or strongly desired.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate benchtop and plant trials for new seafood products (fresh, frozen, value-added, ready-to-eat).
• Assist with recipe development, reformulation, and cost optimization.
• Prepare product specifications, formulations, and technical documentation.
• Support scale-up from pilot to full production and track project milestones.
• Maintain R&D documentation and coordinate lab testing submissions.

Skills

Food Safety

Project Coordination

Documentation

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Food Science or related field

Tools

HACCP/FDA regulations

Job description

Description

Job Title: R&D Coordinator

Department: Research & Development

Reports To: Technical Manager

Location: Vernon, CA

PAFCO

PAFCO is a $500MM+ global seafood manufacturing company with 45+ years of success. Our business is built on trust which has allowed for both our company, and our customers, to succeed together. Learn more about the company at www.pafco.net.

Position Summary

The R&D Coordinator supports product development, reformulation, and commercialization activities within a seafood manufacturing environment. This role coordinates product trials, maintains documentation, ensures regulatory compliance, and serves as a liaison between R&D, Quality Assurance, Production, Procurement, and Sales to successfully bring new and improved seafood products to market.

Key Responsibilities

Product Development & Commercialization

• Coordinate benchtop and plant trials for new seafood products (fresh, frozen, value-added, ready-to-eat, etc.).
• Assist with recipe development, reformulation, and cost optimization.
• Prepare product specifications, formulations, and technical documentation.
• Support scale-up from pilot to full production.
• Track project timelines and ensure milestone completion.

Regulatory & Compliance

• Ensure products comply with FDA, USDA (if applicable), and state regulations.
• Support seafood HACCP documentation and validation.
• Assist with Prop 65 assessments and labeling compliance.
• Maintain ingredient statements, allergen declarations, and nutritional data.
• Work with QA to validate shelf-life studies and challenge studies.

Documentation & Data Management

• Maintain R&D databases, formulas, and product development files.
• Generate batch sheets and trial reports.
• Coordinate sample submissions for lab testing (microbiological, chemical, sensory).
• Track product costing and ingredient changes.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Coordinate with Production during trials and first runs.
• Communicate with Procurement on ingredient sourcing and specifications.
• Support Sales with technical information and customer samples.
• Assist in responding to customer specification requests and audits.

Sensory & Quality Support

• Organize and document sensory evaluations.
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives.
• Monitor product performance and support continuous improvement efforts.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Technology or related field preferred or work experience

Experience

• 1–3 years of experience in food manufacturing (seafood experience strongly preferred).
• Experience with seafood HACCP and FDA regulations.
• Familiarity with frozen, refrigerated, or ready-to-eat product development is a plus.

Technical Skills

• Knowledge of food safety regulations (FDA, HACCP, FSMA).
• Understanding of allergen controls (especially seafood allergens).
• Strong documentation and project coordination skills.

Competencies

• Detail-oriented and highly organized.
• Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Problem-solving mindset with a focus on food safety and quality.

Physical & Work Environment

• Combination of office, kitchen and production floor environment.
• Exposure to refrigerated and frozen conditions.
• Ability to lift up to 50lbs as needed.
• PPE required in production areas.

Preferred Attributes (Seafood-Specific)

• Experience working with raw, cooked, smoked, or ready-to-eat seafood.
• Knowledge of seafood sourcing, seasonality, and quality indicators.
• Understanding of shelf-life challenges unique to seafood products.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, 401k, LTD, FSA