Research and Development Manager - Food ManufacturingScheduler

Staffmark Group; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Staffmark Group is seeking an experienced R&D Manager to lead new product development and commercialization from concept through production at our Phoenix, AZ facility. The role provides technical leadership in food science, formulation, process development, and plant scale-up.

You will drive continuous improvement across existing lines, guide a cross-functional team, ensure compliance with FDA, HACCP, and other standards, and collaborate with Operations, Quality, Regulatory, and Sales.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related scientific discipline.
• 5+ years of hands-on food product development and commercialization experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience with plant trials, scale-up, process validation, and food production.
• Knowledge of FDA, HACCP, GMP, SQF, BRC and labeling regulations.

Responsibilities

• Oversee full lifecycle of product development from concept through commercialization.
• Lead pilot, plant trials, and launches.
• Develop formulations based on customer specs, regulatory guidelines, and operations requirements.
• Establish product specifications, processing procedures, and raw material standards.
• Oversee shelf-life studies, process validation, and product evaluations.
• Provide technical support to Operations, Quality, Regulatory, and Sales teams.
• Ensure compliance with FDA, HACCP, GMP, SQF, BRC and labeling requirements.
• Mentor R&D team and manage multiple high-priority projects.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Analytical thinking

Cross-functional communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Food Science / Biology / Chemistry

Master's degree in Food Science / Chemistry

Job description

Position Title: R&D Manager - Food manufacturing

Location: Phoenix, AZ (Onsite)

Summary

A growing, high-quality food manufacturing organization is seeking an experienced R&D Manager to lead new product development and commercialization from concept through production. This role provides critical technical leadership in food science, formulation, process development, and plant scale-up while driving continuous improvement across existing product lines.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Lead full-lifecycle product development, pilot trials, plant trials, and commercial launches.
• Develop and optimize formulations based on customer specifications, regulatory guidelines, and operational requirements.
• Apply advanced food science principles to enhance product quality, shelf life, ingredient functionality, and manufacturing performance.
• Establish detailed product specifications, processing procedures, and raw material standards.
• Oversee product evaluations, shelf-life studies, and process validation testing.
• Deliver expert technical support to Operations, Quality, Regulatory, and Sales teams.
• Ensure strict compliance with FDA, HACCP, GMP, SQF, BRC, and food labeling requirements.
• Evaluate new ingredients, suppliers, and emerging food processing technologies.
• Lead, mentor, and guide R&D team members while managing multiple high-priority development projects simultaneously.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Biology, Chemistry, or a related scientific discipline.
• 5+ years of hands-on food product development and commercialization experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Proven track record with plant trials, commercial scale-up, process validation, and food production.
• Strong working knowledge of ingredient functionality, food chemistry, thermal processing, pH, emulsions, and shelf-life stability.
• Deep understanding of FDA, HACCP, GMP, BRC, and food labeling regulations.
• Demonstrated leadership, project management, analytical, and cross-functional communication skills.

Preferred

• Master's degree in Food Science, Chemistry, or a related field.
• Prior experience managing and mentoring direct reports within an R&D laboratory or plant environment.

Staffmark is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status, or any other legally protected status. Staffmark offers reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities; contact your local branch for inquiries. Staffmark is an E-Verify employer.