Senior R&D Manager, Technical Innovation

Chobani; Twin Falls (ID); On-site; USD 121,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

401k match

Parental leave

Tuition reimbursement

Fertility and childcare assistance

Wellness program

Paid time off

Job summary

Chobani is seeking a Senior Manager, Technical Innovation to steer Fresh Dairy and ESL innovation platforms and pilot plant capabilities. You will design operating models, investment roadmaps, and analytical frameworks to manage demand, staffing, and capital, aligning technical direction with category strategy.

The role requires deep dairy/food processing knowledge, leadership of pilots, and capacity modeling, with a focus on safe, on-time, in-spec output and scalable innovation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science or Engineering; Masters preferred in related field or equivalent.
• 10+ years in the food industry; dairy preferred; 5+ years in people management.
• Track record steering innovation platforms from concept to commercialization.
• Deep command of dairy/food process unit operations and equipment.
• Strong knowledge of HACCP, GMP, allergen controls and validation.

Responsibilities

• Set the innovation capabilities agenda for Fresh Dairy and ESL platforms.
• Own capacity and staffing modeling for the innovation system.
• Model innovation output and cost per project for leadership review.
• Lead space upgrades, capital-improvement projects, and equipment upgrades.
• Govern governance for food safety, quality, and regulatory compliance.
• Develop supervisors, leads, and senior technical staff to build capability.

Skills

Food process engineering

Leadership

Data modeling

SQL/BI

Education

Bachelor of Science or Engineering

Master's preferred

Tools

PLC/SCADA

MES

SQL/BI

Job description

Summary

Our Research and Development department is on the forefront of product development and innovation. It is easy to be dedicated when you're a part of something much bigger than yourself. We've got an insatiable appetite for making a difference. The Senior Manager, Technical Innovation will steer our Fresh Dairy and ESL innovation platforms and the pilot plant capabilities that power them - setting direction for what the innovation system can make, measure, and prove; upgrading the spaces and equipment it runs on; and modeling its capacity and output so leadership can make informed decisions about demand, priorities, staffing, and capital. The pilot plant serves R&D scientists, research communities, engineering, operations, and commercial partners who compete for the same finite equipment and labor; this leader designs the operating model, investment roadmap, and analytical frameworks that absorb that complexity, working through the operating team rather than in the day-to-day. We are looking for a candidate who is equal parts innovation strategist, engineer, and systems designer to help Chobani advance its mission of making healthy and delicious foods.

Responsibilities

• Set the innovation capabilities agenda and scope for the Fresh Dairy and ESL platforms - steering the portfolio from concept through pilot proof and scale-up, and aligning technical direction with commercial priorities and category strategy.


• Steward pilot plant capabilities as a strategic asset: own the capability roadmap across the full process estate - HTST, homogenization, KDB-3, UF separation, ESL and ESL infusion, maturation, Goavec reactor, automation upgrades, vacuum cooker, batching, and filling - and decide where to add, upgrade, or retire equipment and processes.


• Lead through the operating team: direct the supervisors and leads who run day-to-day pilot operations, sample fulfillment, and laboratory testing, holding the system accountable for safe, on-time, in-specification output without owning floor-level execution.


• Own capacity and staffing modeling for the innovation system: maintain the empirically grounded model built from weekly shift-report productivity data, translate R&D and commercial sample demand into FTE requirements, equipment utilization, and constraint analysis, and present defensible staffing and capital scenarios to leadership.


• Model innovation output, not just plant activity - request-to-sample cycle times, trial throughput, shelf-life program yield, and cost per project - so leadership can see the productivity of the innovation system and where investment moves it.


• Lead space upgrades and capital-improvement projects - facility redesign, equipment relocation, and space optimization - balancing walking paths, utilities, hygienic zoning, and structural constraints, and carrying layout decisions through executive approval.


• Identify and relieve structural bottlenecks - the ESL line and cup sealer behave as serial physical constraints - distinguishing labor-elastic work from equipment-bound work and directing capital, scheduling policy, and process redesign accordingly.


• Set the operating model - intake rules, prioritization frameworks, and governed data pipelines, designed with engineering, automation, and data partners - so competing requests from R&D, commercial, and research communities are sequenced against real equipment and labor availability and a high-variability facility behaves predictably.


• Hold governance accountability for food safety, quality, GMP, and regulatory compliance and a zero-injury safety culture, ensuring standards, audit readiness, and corrective-action ownership sit clearly within the operating team.


• Institutionalize Lean, Six Sigma, and TPM as a management system: set targets for changeover time, cycle time, rework, and waste, review results, and protect the flexibility a prototyping environment requires.


• Govern external analytical laboratory and carrier relationships and their spend, with per-project attribution and service-level accountability for sample and shipment fulfillment.


• Build organizational capability: develop supervisors, leads, and senior technical staff, design the structure, cross-training, and succession behind the pilot operation, and communicate capacity, risk, and investment needs up through R&D Directors, Vice Presidents, and Executive Leadership team members.

Requirements

• Minimum Bachelors of Science or Engineering (Masters preferred) in Food Science, Food Engineering, Chemical/Mechanical/Industrial Engineering, Dairy Science, or related degree, or equivalent combination of education, training and experience.


• 10+ years of food industry experience required, dairy and/or dairy alternatives preferred, including 5+ years in people management; pilot-plant, scale-up, or R&D-operations leadership strongly preferred.


• Track record steering innovation platforms or portfolios - fresh dairy, ESL/aseptic, or adjacent categories - from concept through pilot proof to commercialization.


• Deep technical command of dairy/food process unit operations - pasteurization (HTST/ESL), homogenization, separation/filtration (UF), fermentation/maturation, and aseptic or hygienic packaging - sufficient to set direction and challenge trade-offs credibly.


• Demonstrated command of food safety and quality systems (HACCP, GMP, allergen and sanitation controls) and equipment calibration/validation, exercised at a governance and audit-readiness level.


• Proven capacity, throughput, and output modeling and data-driven decision-making; fluency translating operational data into staffing and capital recommendations that hold up in executive review.


• Continuous-improvement credentials (Lean/Six Sigma/TPM) with a track record of measurable results delivered through teams.


• Working fluency with data and modeling tools (spreadsheet modeling, SQL/BI dashboards) and comfort partnering with data engineers; familiarity with automation/controls (PLC/SCADA, MES) preferred.


• Comfortable with ambiguity and energized by the process of building something from the ground up; innate curiosity for understanding complex food systems and operations.


• Champion a clean & safe manufacturing environment within all facilities.


• Excellent written and verbal communication; able to communicate with scientists, engineers, operators, data teams, and executives alike.


• Must be a self-starter able to work in a fast-paced environment and handle multiple projects/tasks at the same time.

About Us

Chobani is a food maker with a mission of making high-quality and nutritious food accessible to more people, while elevating our communities and making the world a healthier place. In short: making good food for all. In support of this mission, Chobani is a purpose-driven, people-first, food-and-wellness-focused company, and has been since its founding in 2005 byHamdi Ulukaya, an immigrant to the U.S. The Company manufactures yogurt, oat milk, and creamers - Chobani yogurt is America's No.1 yogurt brand, made with natural ingredients without artificial preservatives. Following the 2023 acquisition of La Colombe, a leading coffee roaster with a shared commitment to quality, craftmanship and impact, the Company began selling cold-pressed espresso and lattes on tap at cafes nationwide, as well as Ready to Drink (RTD) coffee beverages at retail. In 2025, Chobani acquired Daily Harvest, a modern brand offering consumers nutritious, delicious and convenient ready-to-make meals.

Chobani uses food as a force for good in the world - putting humanity first in everything it does. The company's philanthropic efforts prioritize giving back to its communities and beyond. Chobani manufactures its products inNew York,Idaho,MichiganandAustralia, and its products are available throughoutNorth Americaand distributed inAustraliaand other select markets.

For more information, please visitwww.chobani.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Chobani is an equal opportunity employer. Chobani will not discriminate against any applicant for employment on any basis including, but not limited to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, military and/or veteran status, marital status, predisposing genetic characteristics and genetic information, or any other classification protected by federal, state, and local laws.

The salary range for this full-time position is $121,000.00 - $190,300.00, + bonus + equity + benefits. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.

• Chobani provides a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision coverage, disability insurance, health savings account, flexible spending accounts, and tuition reimbursement.


• To help save for the future, all employees are eligible for a 401k match of 100% on up to 5% of eligible pay.


• To support growing families, we provide fertility and childcare assistance, and 12 weeks of parental leave at full pay after six months of continuous employment.


• In addition, we provide wellness resources which include an employee assistance program, fitness discounts, a wellness reimbursement, on-site gym access (certain locations) and a monthly wellness newsletter to connect you with resources and timely information.


• We offer various types of paid time of including: 120 hours of paid time off, 11 holidays, and paid volunteer time off.