Senior Manager, Dry Applications Product Development

Kinders; Walnut Creek (CA); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Kinder’s is seeking a Senior Manager, Product Development (Dry Applications) to lead and scale dry formulation initiatives from concept through commercialization at our Walnut Creek, CA site. You will guide bench-top formulation, pilot and plant trials, and coordinate cross-functional teams to deliver innovative, high-quality products on schedule.

You’ll leverage 10+ years in food product development and a strong leadership record to mentor a team of food scientists, negotiate priorities, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in a relevant field.
• 10+ years in food product development with leadership experience.
• CPG innovation experience; sauces/condiments preferred.
• Strong formulation, ingredient functionality, and scale-up knowledge.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of Food Scientists, set expectations, and drive performance.
• Manage goals, development plans, and regular performance reviews.
• Oversee end-to-end dry applications development from concept to commercialization.
• Coordinate resources across innovation, migration, cost optimization, and quality initiatives.
• Collaborate with QA, Regulatory, Operations, Marketing and others to align priorities.

Skills

Food science expertise

Project leadership

Formulation knowledge

Scale-up experience

Cross-functional collaboration

Quality/regulatory awareness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Chemical Engineering, or related field

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Kinder’s is seeking a Senior Manager, Product Development (Dry Applications) to lead and scale dry formulation initiatives from concept through commercialization at our Walnut Creek, CA site. You will guide bench-top formulation, pilot and plant trials, and coordinate cross-functional teams to deliver innovative, high-quality products on schedule.

You’ll leverage 10+ years in food product development and a strong leadership record to mentor a team of food scientists, negotiate priorities, and