VP, R&D - Sauces, Dressings & Dips Innovation

The Marzetti Company; Lewis Center (OH); On-site; USD 250,000 - 450,000; Full time

Job summary

The Marzetti Company leads innovation in Sauces, Dressings and Dips. The Vice President of Research & Development will shape strategy, direct technical direction, and partner with Marketing, Insights, Supply Chain, Engineering and Quality to accelerate product development from idea to launch.

This senior role drives multi-year innovation pipelines, talent development, and disciplined commercialization to deliver topline growth and margin expansion for both food service and retail channels.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in R&D, within CPG Food Industry
• BS in Science, Food Science or Engineering required, related degrees considered
• MS/MBA preferred
• 10 years of second level management position/role leading multi discipline technical teams across various food/beverage categories.
• Knowledge of FDA, USDA, Food Safety and Regulatory related to the food industry
• Experience within refrigerated and shelf stable foods, dressings, sauces, dips preferred
• Proven ability to manage & develop high performing teams and provide effective coaching
• Strong project management and change management skills
• Skilled in complex problem-solving methodologies
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Strong leadership and planning skills; ability to lead through a crisis
• Technically savvy (Office Suite, SAP, spec databases)
• Ability to travel (approximately 20-35%), typically day trips and overnights to plants.

Responsibilities

• Translate business objectives into R&D priorities to deliver both annual and long term initiatives
• Identify critical technical resources, skill and capabilities to meet long term corporate objectives
• Serve as a senior technical advisor to executive leadership team and key cross functional stakeholders
• Identify emerging technologies, trends, tools, AI systems to improve speed to market and successful consumer driven innovation
• Lead annual strategic planning and portfolio prioritization
• Partner with Insights, Marketing, Sales, and Key Customers to develop multiyear Innovation Pipeline
• Converts technical solutions into scalable Innovation and/or Design attributes to deliver Innovation across multiple food categories, channels and customers
• Lead all aspects of Product Development and Commercial execution from idea through launch
• Lead Product Lifecycle Management team and systems to ensure accuracy of data specific to ingredient, process and finished good specifications
• Ensure flawless scale up from bench to manufacturing, partnering with Engineering, Quality, Regulatory and Operations
• Develops strong talent, ensures accountability and delivers technical discipline throughout the Stage Gate process
• Leads team using industry best practices, tools, systems, new technology across both retail and foodservice
• Utilizes technical readiness methodology and disciplined R&D process to consistently deliver projects on time and within budget
• Responsible for leading Enterprise Value Engineering and Supporting Productivity Margin improvement initiatives
• Implement best practices for Design to Value and Value Engineering
• Partners with Procurement to develop supply strategy, deliver flexible solutions related to ingredient sourcing to drive savings
• Leads ingredient technology and supplier collaboration
• Supports Supply Chain/Network Optimization Initiatives
• Develop high performing teams across both Retail and Foodservice
• Mentors, teaches and grows R&D technical talent, create enhanced organizational capabilities
• Develop next generation leaders
• Strengthen technical due diligence, rigor and scale up process
• Drive employee engagement and culture

Skills

Leadership

R&D Strategy

Food Industry Knowledge

Project Management

Cross-functional Leadership

Education

BS in Science/Engineering

MS/MBA preferred

Tools

SAP

Office Suite

Spec Databases

Job description

The Marzetti Company leads innovation in Sauces, Dressings and Dips. The Vice President of Research & Development will shape strategy, direct technical direction, and partner with Marketing, Insights, Supply Chain, Engineering and Quality to accelerate product development from idea to launch.

This senior role drives multi-year innovation pipelines, talent development, and disciplined commercialization to deliver topline growth and margin expansion for both food service and retail channels.