Senior R&D Manager

GSF; Conyers (GA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Golden State Foods (GSF) is seeking a Senior R&D Manager to lead product development strategy and execution, driving innovation and growth across the organization.

You will guide cross-functional teams from concept to commercialization, oversee scale-up, and ensure food safety and regulatory compliance while developing talent and advancing innovation initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Engineering, or related field required; Master's preferred.
• Minimum 8–10 years of relevant food industry experience and 4+ years in people leadership.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute product development strategies aligned with growth.
• Identify emerging consumer trends, ingredient technologies, and opportunities.
• Lead pipelines for new products, reformulations, line extensions, and cost initiatives.
• Partner with Commercial, Procurement, Operations, and Quality teams.
• Coach and develop Product Development team members and successors.
• Lead cross-functional teams from concept to commercialization.
• Oversee scale-up and commercialization activities and speed-to-market improvements.
• Provide leadership in food chemistry, ingredient functionality, processing, sensory science, and food safety.

Skills

Leadership

Product development

Cross-functional

Regulatory compliance

Food chemistry

Sensory science

Scale-up

Project management

Education

Bachelor's in Food Science/Engineering

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Regulatory standards knowledge

Job description

Description

ABOUT GOLDEN STATE FOODS

Golden State Foods is a distinguished leader in the food service industry, offering an extensive array of products and services to a diverse clientele. Rooted in the values of quality service and integrity, we are dedicated to creating a supportive and inclusive atmosphere where employees can advance, innovate, and contribute to our ongoing success.

The Senior R&D Manager leads product development strategy and execution to drive innovation, customer growth, operational excellence, and competitive advantage across Golden State Foods. Responsible for translating business and customer objectives into a robust innovation pipeline while leading successful commercialization, talent development, and cross-functional collaboration.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Develop and execute product innovation strategies aligned with business growth and customer objectives.
• Identify emerging consumer trends, ingredient technologies, and competitive opportunities.
• Drive innovation pipelines including new products, reformulations, line extensions, and cost optimization initiatives.
• Partner with Commercial, Procurement, Operations, and Quality teams to prioritize strategic opportunities.
• Lead, coach, and develop Product Development team members and succession plans.
• Build organizational capability through technical standards and best practices.
• Serve as the primary technical leader for strategic customer initiatives and presentations.
• Lead cross-functional teams from concept through commercialization.
• Oversee scale-up and commercialization activities to ensure successful implementation.
• Drive continuous improvement in speed-to-market, development processes, and manufacturing consistency.
• Provide technical leadership in food chemistry, ingredient functionality, processing, sensory science, and food safety.
• Evaluate new ingredients, suppliers, and technologies to improve quality and competitiveness.
• Maintain awareness of regulatory requirements and industry developments.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Travel required <25% of time

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Engineering, or related scientific field required. Master's degree preferred. Minimum 8-10 years of relevant food industry experience and 4+ years of people leadership experience.

LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES

• Leads and develops Product Development professionals.
• Establishes strategic direction for innovation and commercialization.
• Builds succession plans and organizational capability.
• Influences customers, executive leadership, and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Champions a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.

PERFORMANCE CATEGORIES

• New Product Commercialization Success
• Innovation Pipeline Delivery
• Customer Satisfaction and Growth
• Talent Development
• Speed-to-Market Excellence
• Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance
• Cross-Functional Leadership
• Continuous Improvement
• Employee Engagement and Retention

WHY JOIN US

Golden State Foods (GSF) is one of the largest diversified suppliers in the food industry, manufacturing a range of products including sauces, dressings, condiments, syrups, and toppings for leading restaurant and retail brands.

Join GSF and grow your career with a global food industry leader who:

• People First: At Golden State Foods, we're not just a company; we're a dynamic community where your talents are celebrated, and your ambitions are nurtured.
• Values Driven: Our core values drive everything we do, creating a culture of innovation, integrity, and excellence. But we're not content with just being great; we strive for greatness in every aspect of our work.
• People Development: At GSF we strive to continually develop our people to prepare us all for the needs of tomorrow.
• Philanthropy & Sustainability: We're committed to making a difference beyond our walls through philanthropy and sustainability efforts across all our locations around the globe.
• Extensive Benefits: Golden State Foods believes in a holistic approach to wellness focusing on the whole person with benefits that support those needs.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

We're proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Our company values diverse perspectives and is committed to creating an inclusive and respectful workplace where every person is supported and empowered to thrive.