R&D Innovation Manager — Food Science & Packaging (Hybrid)

Dole Packaged Foods; Westlake Village (CA); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Dole Packaged Foods is seeking an Associate Manager to support the R&D team in pushing innovation across core product areas, from ingredients to packaging. The role emphasizes collaboration with cross-functional teams in a hybrid California office, with three days on site in Westlake Village.

You will manage projects, contribute to feasibility assessments, and help drive cost-efficient packaging and formulation development in pursuit of the company’s nutrition mission.

Qualifications

• 2–4 years of experience in R&D, Innovation, Product Development, QA, or similar roles.
• Experience in product development, formulation, and packaging.
• Knowledge of GMP, HACCP, and GFSI quality systems.
• Ability to work cross-functionally with manufacturing, marketing, sales, supply chain, and external partners.

Responsibilities

• Support the R&D team in delivering the innovation pipeline in partnership with cross functional teams.
• Manage assigned projects through the project management / stage gate process, delivering on defined scope, timelines, and objectives.
• Provide technical input on product feasibility, including make vs buy recommendations.
• Support management of third party product and packaging development partners.
• Collaborate with Procurement to engage third party manufacturing partners.
• Support packaging development and testing, including learning packaging models and testing methods.
• Own project level cost of goods targets and develop cost savings opportunities.
• Support specification development and maintenance for formulations and packaging.
• Contribute to manufacturing trials and learnings related to formulation, process, packaging.

Skills

Product development

Specification writing

Process development

Packaging fundamentals

Quality systems (GMP/HACCP/GFSI)

Cost management

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Food Science/Food Technology/Engineering or related

Job description

Dole Packaged Foods is seeking an Associate Manager to support the R&D team in pushing innovation across core product areas, from ingredients to packaging. The role emphasizes collaboration with cross-functional teams in a hybrid California office, with three days on site in Westlake Village.

You will manage projects, contribute to feasibility assessments, and help drive cost-efficient packaging and formulation development in pursuit of the company’s nutrition mission.