Research & Development Manager

Jobtailor; Kentucky; On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor in Kentucky is seeking a senior Food Product Development Leader to drive the development process from feasibility through commercialization, ensuring scalable and compliant products.

You will serve as the technical contact for customers, develop testing protocols, and manage timelines and resources while building supplier relationships to identify new ingredients and trends.

The role requires a bachelor’s in a relevant field, 5+ years in development with leadership, and travel up to 40%.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in Food Science, Food Technology, or related field.
• 5+ years in food product development; 10 years preferred; at least 2 years in a leadership role.
• Strong knowledge of food science, ingredient functionality, and manufacturing processes.
• Excellent project management and ability to handle multiple projects.
• Proven track record of successful product launches.
• Knowledge of food safety regulations and industry standards.
• Willingness to travel up to 40%.

Responsibilities

• Drive the product development process from feasibility through testing, scale-up, and commercialization.
• Serve as the key technical contact for customer engagement and project support.
• Develop consistent experimental design parameters, testing protocols, shelf life, and sensory evaluation procedures.
• Establish gold standard product properties and communicate to stakeholders.
• Establish supplier relationships to identify new ingredients, technologies, and trends.
• Ensure all products meet regulatory requirements and company standards.
• Manage development timelines and resources effectively.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Regulatory compliance

Experimental design

Sensory evaluation

Supplier relations

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Technology, or related field

Job description

• Drive the product development process from feasibility through testing, scale-up, and commercialization.
• Serve as the key technical contact for customer engagement and project support.
• Develop consistent experimental design parameters, testing protocols, shelf life, and sensory evaluation procedures across the business unit.
• Responsible for establishing gold standard product properties, documenting and communicating to both internal and external stakeholders.
• Establish supplier relationships to identify new ingredients, technologies, and trends in the food industry.
• Ensure all products meet regulatory requirements and company standards.
• Manage development timelines and resources effectively.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Technology, or a related field
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in food product development, 10 years preferred, with at least 2 years in a leadership role
• Strong knowledge of food science, ingredient functionality, and food manufacturing processes
• Excellent project management skills and ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously
• Proven track record of successful product development and successful product launches
• Strong knowledge of food safety regulations and industry standards.
• Ability to travel up to 40%

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in food product development, including experimental design, regulatory compliance, and project management. Proven ability to lead teams and manage resources effectively while ensuring product quality and safety standards are met.