R&D Manager - Pet Food Innovation & Launch Leader

The Honest Kitchen Inc; Topeka (KS); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited vacation

Health insurance

401K with company match

Pet-friendly offices

Volunteer time off

Job summary

The Honest Kitchen Inc is seeking an R&D Manager to lead development, optimization, and commercialization of pet food formulations across the brand portfolio. You will translate briefs into validated formulations and drive projects from bench to launch, coordinating with co-manufacturers and internal teams.

You will work with the Director of R&D to ensure on-cost, on-spec, regulatory-compliant products while mentoring the R&D Technologist and contributing to risk and stage-gate decisions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and 3–5 years hands-on product development experience.
• Experience working with co-manufacturers and managing multiple projects.
• Familiarity with AAFCO, FDA, USDA-APHIS, FSMA, NASC regulations as they relate to pet foods.

Responsibilities

• Develop and refine product formulations for new SKUs and cost/quality optimization.
• Plan and execute bench-top and plant trials with cross-functional teams.
• Manage multiple projects from brief through launch and document stage-gate deliverables.
• Collaborate with Marketing, Procurement, Quality, Regulatory and Operations to align on requirements.

Skills

Ingredient functionality

Plant trials

Data interpretation

Documentation

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills

Team player

Animal health passion

Education

Food Science degree

Animal Science degree

Regulatory familiarity (AAFCO/FDA)

Job description

The Honest Kitchen Inc is seeking an R&D Manager to lead development, optimization, and commercialization of pet food formulations across the brand portfolio. You will translate briefs into validated formulations and drive projects from bench to launch, coordinating with co-manufacturers and internal teams.

You will work with the Director of R&D to ensure on-cost, on-spec, regulatory-compliant products while mentoring the R&D Technologist and contributing to risk and stage-gate decisions.