R&D Manager: Culinary Innovation & Private Label

Golding

Winston-Salem (NC)

On-site

USD 90,000 - 150,000

Full time

13 days ago

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Job summary

Golding is seeking an experienced Research & Development Manager in Winston-Salem, NC to lead product development for sauces, dressings, marinades, condiments, beverage syrups and related products. You will translate market targets into commercially viable formulations and guide projects from concept through scale-up and commercialization.

The role combines hands-on technical leadership with strong project management, culinary understanding and customer focus.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, Culinary Science or a related field required. Advanced degree is a plus.
Minimum 7 years of food product development experience, with demonstrated progression in technical responsibility. Prior people leadership experience strongly preferred.
Demonstrated product development experience in sauces, dressings, marinades, condiments, beverage syrups, beverages or similar liquid and semi solid food systems. Strong experience in sauces and dressings preferred.
Strong experience with product matching and reverse engineering, including reconstructing competitive products using ingredient statements, nutrition information, sensory evaluation, analytical data and technical knowledge.
Strong understanding of ingredient functionality and interactions, formulation principles, sensory evaluation, shelf life, food safety and processing considerations relevant to sauces and dressings.
Demonstrated ability to move products from bench development through pilot or plant trials and commercial production.
Exceptional organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple customers, projects, priorities and deadlines in a fast paced environment.
Proven ability to lead, coach and develop technical employees and create a collaborative, accountable team environment.
Strong written, verbal and presentation skills with the ability to communicate effectively with customers, technical teams, plant teams and senior leadership.
Willingness to travel to support customers, plant trials, commercialization and supplier activities.

Responsibilities

Lead, coach and develop the R&D team with clear priorities and accountability.
Own technical execution of customer projects from concept through commercialization, including private label and branded co manufacturing programs, new products, product matching, renovations, cost optimization and continuous improvement.
Lead reverse engineering of national brand, competitive and customer benchmark products by translating sensory, ingredient declaration, nutrition, analytical and processing information into technically sound formulations.
Provide technical and culinary leadership across sauces, dressings, marinades, condiments, beverage syrups, beverages and related applications, including ingredient functionality, flavor systems, texture, emulsification, viscosity, acidity and product stability.
Set formulation, sensory, nutritional, analytical and process targets and ensure development work is supported by sound experimental design, documentation and data based decision making.
Manage a high volume, fast moving development pipeline across multiple customers and product categories, effectively prioritizing resources, balancing competing deadlines and proactively communicating risks, decisions and next steps.
Partner directly with sales, customers and commercial teams to understand product expectations, present prototypes, translate feedback into technical action and build confidence in Golding’s development capabilities.
Partner cross functionally with Sales, Operations, Quality, Regulatory, Procurement, Commercial, Finance and Engineering to ensure products are designed for manufacturability and successfully transferred from bench to plant.
Plan and lead plant trials, first productions and commercialization activities. Troubleshoot formulation and processing issues and provide technical support through startup and ongoing production as needed.
Identify opportunities to improve formulations, processes, ingredients and development methods to strengthen product quality, margin, speed to market and customer value.
Build strong relationships with ingredient and flavor suppliers and leverage external technical resources to accelerate development and solve complex formulation challenges.
Ensure R&D activities and documentation comply with applicable food safety, regulatory, labeling, customer and Good Manufacturing Practice requirements.
Performs additional duties as assigned that are consistent with the scope, level of responsibility, and essential functions of this position in support of departmental and operational objectives.