Senior R&D Product Development Lead - Pet Food Innovation

Redbarn Pet Products LLC; Great Bend (KS); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Redbarn Pet Products LLC in Kansas is seeking a Senior Manager, R&D – Product Development to lead pet food and treat innovation by translating consumer needs into technical requirements and new product concepts.

You will provide strategic technical leadership, manage R&D talent, and drive renovation across product platforms, owning technical expertise and ensuring successful commercialization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in science, food science, engineering, or related field.
• Minimum 6–8 years of R&D experience.
• Prior people management and technical leadership experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of novel pet food and pet treats.
• Lead formulation and product development to meet consumer and pet needs.
• Serve as technical authority for ingredients, processing and formulation strategy.
• Identify and advance new ingredients, technologies and capabilities.
• Own all technical aspects of assigned projects and ensure timely completion.
• Develop, review and approve formulation and finished product specifications.
• Oversee sensory, palatability, shelf-life and stability testing.
• Author technical proposals, summaries, and reports.
• Maintain technical documentation and laboratory records.
• Lead cross-functional teams and projects with moderate to high complexity.
• Solve complex problems and propose innovative solutions.
• Collaborate across functions to achieve business objectives.
• Serve as R&D Technical Lead on cross-functional initiatives.
• Ensure GMPs, food safety standards, and regulatory compliance.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Science, Food Science, Engineering, or related field

Job description

Redbarn Pet Products LLC in Kansas is seeking a Senior Manager, R&D – Product Development to lead pet food and treat innovation by translating consumer needs into technical requirements and new product concepts.

You will provide strategic technical leadership, manage R&D talent, and drive renovation across product platforms, owning technical expertise and ensuring successful commercialization.