Technical Applications Manager

Saputo Cheese USA, Inc.; White Bear Lake (MN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 118,000; Full time

Job summary

Saputo Cheese USA, Inc. in Minnesota, USA is seeking a Manager, R&D (Technical Sales) to lead technical initiatives that blend scientific insight with commercial growth. You will bridge Sales, R&D, Operations, Marketing, and customers to translate product capabilities into value-driven solutions.

You will guide product development, evaluate performance, and share findings with senior leaders while mentoring teams and supporting strategic accounts. Travel 30-40% is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Dairy Science, Chemistry, Engineering, or related technical discipline required.
• Advanced degree preferred.
• 7+ years in technical sales, technical service, product development, R&D, or related role.
• Strong knowledge of dairy products and dairy ingredients.
• Ability to translate complex technical information into business solutions.
• Proven experience leading customer projects from concept through commercialization.
• Strong business acumen balancing technical and commercial objectives.
• Excellent communication, presentation, influencing, and relationship-building skills.
• Highly organized with solid project management and prioritization in fast-paced settings.
• Willingness to travel 30-40% for customer visits and events.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary technical liaison between Customers, Sales, R&D, Operations, and Technical Services to drive customer satisfaction.
• Lead customer-facing technical initiatives by translating product requirements into actionable solutions.
• Partner with Operations and R&D to support product development and process improvements.
• Develop and maintain customer application, performance, and market intelligence data.
• Evaluate customer quality issues and coordinate cross-functional teams for timely resolution.
• Present technical findings and strategic recommendations to senior leadership.
• Support Sales with technical training and guidance on opportunities.
• Travel to support customer visits and industry events.

Skills

Technical sales

R&D liaison

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Presentation skills

Project management

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Food Science

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

At Saputo, we bring good to the table by making high-quality products, investing in our people, and supporting communities around the world. As a top 10 global dairy processor, we value contributions that matter and strive to foster an inclusive, growth-driven work environment.

Ready to bring your best?

The Manager, R&D (Technical Sales) serves as the technical lead and strategic partner between Sales, R&D, Operations, Marketing, and customers to drive growth, innovation, and customer satisfaction across the portfolio. This role translates technical product capabilities into customer-focused solutions, supports key business development initiatives, and provides leadership in evaluating product performance, customer opportunities, and competitive positioning. The Manager, Technical Sales acts as a trusted advisor to both internal stakeholders and external customers, ensuring technical excellence while advancing commercial objectives.

How You Will Make Contributions That Matter

• Serve as the primary technical liaison between Customers, Sales, R&D, Operations, and Technical Services to drive customer satisfaction, business growth, and value creation.
• Lead customer-facing technical initiatives by partnering with customers to understand product requirements, application needs, emerging opportunities, and quality concerns, translating these insights into actionable business solutions.
• Partner with Operations and R&D to support product development, commercialization efforts, process improvements, and product performance evaluations, including assessing the impact of manufacturing and process changes on product quality and application performance.
• Develop and maintain key customer application, performance, and market intelligence data to support business development, innovation initiatives, and informed decision-making.
• Evaluate customer quality issues, technical challenges, and product opportunities, coordinating cross-functional teams to ensure timely resolution and a superior customer experience.
• Support strategic customer accounts by providing technical expertise during customer visits, product evaluations, application reviews, and new business development activities.
• Partner closely with Sales to provide rapid and effective responses to customer needs, including sample requests, product recommendations, technical support, and commercialization activities.
• Evaluate competitive products, market trends, and customer requirements to identify opportunities for portfolio growth, product differentiation, and competitive advantage.
• Analyze product performance, customer feedback, and application data to generate insights and recommendations that support continuous improvement, innovation, and customer value creation.
• Present technical findings, product performance evaluations, customer opportunities, and strategic recommendations to senior leadership and key stakeholders.
• Support the Sales organization through technical training, product expertise, and guidance on customer opportunities, applications, and sensitive quality matters.
• Foster strong cross-functional collaboration and act as a positive ambassador for Saputo's culture, values, and commitment to operational excellence and customer success.

You are best suited for the role if you have the following experience, skills, and qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Dairy Science, Chemistry, Engineering, or a related technical discipline required; advanced degree preferred.
• 7+ years of experience in technical sales, technical service, product development, R&D, applications, or a related customer-facing technical role within food, dairy, ingredients, or CPG industries.
• Strong knowledge of dairy products, dairy ingredients, food manufacturing, and customer application requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex technical information into business solutions for both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Proven experience leading customer projects from concept through commercialization.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to balance technical considerations with commercial objectives.
• Experience collaborating effectively across Sales, R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing, and Quality functions.
• Excellent communication, presentation, influencing, and relationship-building skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, with the ability to interpret technical data and generate actionable recommendations.
• Highly organized with demonstrated project management and prioritization skills in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to lead multiple customer initiatives simultaneously while maintaining a high level of responsiveness and execution.
• Willingness to travel approximately 30-40% to support customer visits, trials, business development activities, and industry events.

We support and care for our employees by providing them with... Development opportunities that enhance you career fulfillment. Meaningful compensation & benefits that help you care for your family. Opportunities to contribute to your community and enhance the lives of others through Saputo products.

Salary Range: $89,695 to $117,725. Salary offers will vary commensurate with experience, skills, and training.

In the USA, Saputo ranks among the top three cheese producers and is one of the top producers of extended shelf-life and cultured dairy products, with a portfolio of well-loved brands such as Stella, Frigo Cheese, Montchevre, Stella, and Treasure Cave. We also boast a strong foodservice presence, partnering with reputable chain restaurants and broadline distributors.

Accessibility Saputo Cheese USA Inc. endeavors to make Saputo.com/careers accessible to all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact Human Resources at 214-863-2300 or email [e-mail]. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.

EEOSaputo Cheese USA Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you'd like more information on your EEO rights under law, please visit www.EEOC.gov.

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