Senior Manager, R&D

David Protein; New York (NY); On-site; USD 170,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Equity

401(k) with 4% match

Gym expenses

Job summary

MediciBrands in New York is seeking a Senior Manager, R&D to lead a portfolio of SKUs from concept through pilot, scale-up, and post-launch iteration while mentoring a small bench team of Food Scientists.

This is a working-manager role: you'll stay hands-on at the bench for challenging formulations and own the technical relationship with co-manufacturers during scale-up and ongoing production, driving cross-functional delivery.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in food science, R&D, or product development
• 4+ years directly managing scientists
• Hands-on formulation experience in high-protein systems
• Experience bringing products from bench to commercial scale with co-manufacturers

Responsibilities

• Lead formulation, testing, and iteration across the product line.
• Own co-manufacturer relationships during scale-up and ongoing production.
• Manage and develop 2–3 food scientists, prioritizing experiments.
• Drive innovation roadmap and cross-functional delivery.

Skills

Food science

R&D leadership

Formulation

Scale-up

Education

Bachelor's/Master's in Food Science

Job description

TheCompany:

MediciBrandsistheparentcompanyofDavid,Epogee,HallPassandseveralemergingbrandslaunchinginthenearfuture.MediciBrandsisledbyCEOPeterRahal,Co-founderandformerCEOofRXBAR,andisfocusedonbuildingbrandsthatbreakthetradeoffsbetweentasteandnutritionthathaveclassicallyexisted.

RoleOverview:

ReportingtotheDirectorofR&D,wearelookingforaSeniorManager,R&DtoleadandberesponsibleforaportfolioofSKUsend-to-end-fromconceptthroughpilot,scale-up,andpost-launchiteration-whilemanagingasmallbenchteamofFoodScientists.

Thisisaworking-managerrole.You'llstillbehands-onatthebenchforthehardestformulationproblems,andyou'llberesponsibleforprioritization,mentorship,andcross-functionaldeliveryacrossyourproductline.

Formulation&TechnicalOwnership

• Leadformulation,testing,anditerationacrossanassignedproductline,applyingdeepworkingknowledgeofproteins,high-intensityandraresweeteners,fibers,bindingsystems,andshelf-lifekinetics.
• Diagnoseandresolvefinished-productfailures-texturedrift,bindingfailure,flavorinstability,processingdefects-withspeedandtechnicalprecision.
• Ownthetechnicalrelationshipwithco-manufacturersduringscale-upandongoingproduction,includingtrialplanningandtroubleshootingontheplantfloor.

TeamLeadership

• Manageanddevelop2–3FoodScientists/SeniorFoodScientists-settingpriorities,reviewingexperimentaldesign,andcoachingontechnicalrigor.
• Buildprojectownershipmodelssoeachscientistcanrunaworkstreamindependentlywhilestayingalignedtoportfoliopriorities.
• Instillacultureofcreativityandexperimentationontheteam—carvingoutspaceforscientiststoexploreunconventionalingredientpairingsandformats,andchampioningboldideasevenwhentheycarrytechnicalrisk.

InnovationPipeline

• Staycurrentoningredienttechnologiesandprocessingmethodsrelevanttohigh-proteinsystems-precisionfermentationproteins,novelsweeteners,encapsulation—andbringforwardrecommendationsfortheinnovationroadmap.
• Leadstrategicresearchinitiativesthatlook12–24monthsaheadofthecurrentportfolio,scopingexploratoryworkstreamsaroundemergingingredienttechnologiesandtranslatingearly-stagefindingsintoactionableinnovationbets.
• DefineandprioritizetheR&DresearchagendainpartnershipwiththeR&Dleadershipteam,balancingnear-termproductfixesagainstlonger-horizonplatform-buildingwork.
• Buildandmaintainrelationshipswithingredientsuppliers,co-manufacturers,andacademic/industrycontactstokeeptheteampluggedintowherescienceisheading,notjustwhereit'sbeen.

Cross-Functional&Regulatory

• PartnerwithRegulatory/QAtoensureingredientselection,labeling,andclaimsarecompliantwithFDAnutritionlabelingrequirementsandemergingsweetener/fat-replacerguidance.
• WorkwithSupplyChainandProcurementoningredientsourcing,costtargets,andsupplierqualification.

• 10+yearsofexperienceinfoodscience,R&D,orproductdevelopmentwithinfoodorCPG,including4+yearsdirectlymanagingscientists.
• Deephands-onformulationexperienceinhigh-proteinsystems(bars,dairy/frozen,orconfection).
• Trackrecordtakingproductsfrombenchthroughcommercialscalewithaco-manufacturer.
• Comfortoperatingwithstartuppaceandambiguity-thisisnotaroleforsomeonewhoneedsamature,fullybuilt-outprocess.
• Full-time,in-personrole
• Travelexpectationsupto25%(manufacturing,suppliers,etc.)
• Salary:$170,000–$200,000peryear,inclusiveofcashbonusbasedonattainmentofcompanytargets
• Companyequityopportunity
• 100%coveredHealth,Vision,DentalInsurance
• 401(k)with4%match
• Additionalperks,suchascoveredgymexpenses
• SubstantialandrequiredPTO