Sr. R&D Manager, Product Development & Innovation

Paycom - ATS; Burlington (NC); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Alamance Foods Inc. is seeking a Senior Manager - R&D & Commercialization to lead product development, scale-up, and commercialization for dairy, non-dairy, beverage, aerosol, frozen novelty, and related foods.

You will partner with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Procurement, Sales, and customers to drive launches that meet quality, timing, and financial goals. You will manage pilot plant trials, validations, and startup activities, develop formulations and specs, and ensure

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a technical discipline related to food science or engineering.
• 8–12 years in progressive food/beverage product development and commercialization.
• 5+ years leading products from concept to full-scale manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Lead new product development and commercialization from concept through launch.
• Develop formulations, process parameters, specifications, and commercialization plans.
• Manage pilot plant trials, validations, and first production runs.
• Collaborate with Operations and Engineering to ensure manufacturability and scale-up.
• Lead troubleshooting for formulation, processing, shelf life, and performance.
• Support customer innovation initiatives and technical presentations.
• Contribute to regulatory compliance and labeling with QA teams.
• Mentor junior R&D staff and lead cross-functional teams.

Skills

NPD

Commercialization

Project Management

Cross-Functional Leadership

Root Cause Analysis

Consumer Complaint Investigation

Customer-Facing Technical Support

Process Optimization

Continuous Improvement

Communication & Presentation

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Food Science / Dairy Science / Chemical Engineering / Food Engineering (or related)

Job description

## Description**Company Background**Alamance Foods is recognized as a leading manufacturer of aerosol whipped cream, flavored drinks, freeze pops, and bottled water, offering beloved brands like Classic Cream, Fun Pops, Coffee Toppers, Whipt, and Groovy Glacier. We produce, pack, and ship private labels based on customer-specific needs. An innovative company with proven experience in creating exciting new products that redefine what is possible in the food and beverage manufacturing industry.**Position Opportunity**We are seeking a Senior Manager - R&D & Commercialization to lead product development, scale-up, and commercialization activities across Alamance Foods' portfolio of dairy, non-dairy, beverage, aerosol, frozen novelty, and adjacent food categories.This individual will be responsible for managing projects from concept through commercialization, partnering closely with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Procurement, Sales, and customers to successfully launch innovative products while meeting quality, timing, and financial objectives.**Essential Duties & Responsibilities*** Lead new product development and commercialization projects from concept through launch.* Develop formulations, process parameters, product specifications, and commercialization plans.* Manage pilot plant trials, plant validations, first production runs, and startup activities.* Collaborate with Operations and Engineering to ensure products are manufacturable and scalable.* Lead troubleshooting efforts related to formulation, processing, shelf life, and product performance.* Support customer innovation initiatives and technical presentations.* Conduct root cause investigations related to consumer complaints, product quality, and commercialization challenges.* Partner with Quality and Regulatory teams to ensure compliance with FDA, SQF, labeling, and food safety requirements.* Manage multiple projects simultaneously while meeting aggressive commercialization timelines.* Mentor junior R&D staff and provide technical leadership across cross-functional teams.## Qualifications**Education/Training*** · Bachelor's Degree in Food Science, Dairy Science, Chemical Engineering, Food Engineering, or related technical discipline required**Experience*** · 8-12 years of progressive experience in food and beverage product development and commercialization* · Minimum 5 years of experience commercializing products from concept through full-scale manufacturing* · Experience leading plant trials, process validations, startup activities, and scale-up projects* · Experience working directly with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Procurement teams* · Strong understanding of food manufacturing processes and commercialization requirements**Knowledge, Skills & Abilities*** · Product Development* · Commercialization & Scale-Up* · Project Management* · Cross-Functional Leadership* · Root Cause Analysis* · Consumer Complaint Investigation* · Customer-Facing Technical Support* · Process Optimization* · Continuous Improvement* · Strong Communication & Presentation Skills**Impact of the Role*** · On-time commercialization of new products* · Successful execution of plant trials and production startups* · Achievement of project timelines and launch objectives* · Product quality and stability performance* · Customer satisfaction and responsiveness* · Innovation pipeline execution**Equal Opportunity & Employment Eligibility***Alamance Foods Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against persons because of age, race, color, creed, religion, disability, gender, ethnic or national origin, or veteran status. Alamance Foods Inc. prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities and will reasonably accommodate applicants with a disability, upon request, and will also ensure reasonable accommodation for employees with a disability.**Employment Eligibility: Alamance Foods Inc. participates in the federal E-Verify program. All employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a Form I-9 and verification of authorization to work in the United States*