Senior Product Developer

Sunrise Farms; Surrey (ND); On-site; USD 85,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food product company located in North Dakota is seeking a Senior Product Developer to oversee corporate-level product development. This hands-on role involves managing projects from concept to commercialization, collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure project success, and developing high-quality product formulations. Candidates should have a minimum of five years of relevant experience and a background in food science. The position offers a competitive salary range of $85,000 to $105,000 annually.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience in R&D/Product Development within the food industry.
• Experience leading corporate-level projects and presenting to cross-functional teams.
• Strong technical background in food science and understanding of manufacturing processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage corporate product development projects from concept through commercialization.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to support product launches.
• Conduct sensory evaluations and manage product formulation documentation.

Skills

Project management

Food Science

Technical communication

Problem-solving

Team collaboration

Education

Post-secondary education in Food Science, Engineering, Culinary Arts

Tools

Microsoft Office

GENESIS

Job description

The Corporate Senior Product Developer is a strategic and hands‑on role responsible for managing corporate‑level product development, leading head office sensory reviews, serving as a central hub for primary division development. This role supports both the Further Processing Division and Corporate initiatives, ensuring alignment with customer expectations, regulatory compliance, and internal quality.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

The following list of duties and responsibilities is not intended to be an all‑inclusive list of duties, rather they are intended to only describe the nature of the job:

• Lead and manage corporate product development projects from concept through commercialization, including timelines, resources, budgets, and integration into manufacturing.
• Collaborate closely with cross‑functional teams (Sales, Marketing, Operations, QA, Regulatory, Procurement/Sourcing, and Manufacturing) to support product launches, improvements, and market readiness.
• Develop, maintain, and test product formulations, recipes, specifications, label copy, and cooking instructions to optimize quality, compliance, and consumer experience.
• Conduct and oversee sensory evaluations, including weekly sensory reviews at Head Office, menu creation, product presentation, documentation, result tracking, and circulation.
• Create and test new and existing formulas through benchtop and pilot plant trials to validate product concepts and manufacturing processes.
• Monitor market and competitive trends, evaluate competitor and market samples, and coordinate market testing to gather consumer feedback and inform development strategy.
• Ensure all products, ingredients, and claims comply with internal standards and external regulations (CFIA, FDA, Advertising Standards of Canada) and provide regulatory guidance on new or revised formulations.
• Prepare product development documentation and data for executive, customer, and stakeholder presentations.
• Create and maintain product development schedules to meet project milestones and stakeholder expectations.
• Apply strong troubleshooting and problem‑solving skills to address challenges during product development and manufacturing.
• Maintain brand guidelines and product standards while ensuring feasibility, quality, and cost‑effectiveness across ingredients, processes, and packaging.
• Brainstorm innovative, consumer‑driven product ideas by researching trends, analyzing competitor products, and identifying unmet market needs.

REQUIRED SKILL, EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Post‑secondary education in Food Science, Engineering, Culinary Arts, or a related field.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in R&D/Product Development, culinary, and project management within the food industry, preferably in further processing or meat manufacturing.
• Experience leading corporate‑level projects, presenting to cross‑functional teams, and communicating results with customers and stakeholders; experience in customer‑facing platforms is highly desirable.
• Strong technical background in food science, including formula validation, ingredient selection, and understanding of manufacturing processes.
• Solid working knowledge of the food industry, with a strong emphasis on further processing.
• Proven ability to plan, organize, and manage projects end‑to‑end, ensuring on‑time delivery and adherence to budget.
• Demonstrated leadership ability, including leading project teams and collaborating effectively across departments; prior managerial experience is an asset.
• Ability to interpret market data and industry trends and translate insights into actionable product development strategies.
• Strong oral and written communication skills to present research, proposals, and results in support of sales, marketing, and business objectives.
• Excellent problem‑solving, troubleshooting, project management, time management, and computer/technical skills.

COMPETENCIES AND ATTRIBUTES

• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• High proficiency in Microsoft Office, label software, and GENESIS.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• A self‑starter with a passion for product development and innovation.
• Creative and flexible, with the ability to adapt to evolving customer and market needs.
• Detail‑oriented with strong analytical and problem‑solving capabilities.
• Comfortable working in lab, office, and refrigerated plant environments.
• Willingness to travel between facilities and evaluate food products, including meat and plant‑based alternatives.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Onsite office hours, Mon‑Fri
• In plant environment with cold refrigeration

$85,000 - $105,000 a year