Product Development Manager (Food)

Product Development Manager (Food)Lead innovation. Shape the future of our food products.This is a direct-hire opportunity for an experienced and passionate R&D Manager to lead product development and innovation from idea to pilot-scale reality. You'll combine food science expertise with leadership and creativity to bring high-quality, compliant, and consumer-driven food products to lifewhile seeing your work move from the lab to manufacturing.What You'll DoProduct Development & InnovationLead the development of new food products and line extensions aligned with business goals, brand strategy, and consumer trends.Translate consumer insights, customer needs, and marketing concepts into scalable product formulations and prototypes.Drive formulation development, ingredient selection, and bench-scale experimentation.Technical LeadershipServe as a technical authority in food science, formulation, processing, and ingredient functionality.Oversee sensory evaluation, shelf-life studies, and product performance testing.Ensure formulations meet quality, nutritional, cost, and regulatory targets.Team Leadership & Resource ManagementManage, mentor, and develop R&D scientists, technologists, and technicians.Establish R&D best practices, workflows, and documentation standards.Manage R&D budgets, project timelines, and laboratory resources.Cross-Functional CollaborationPartner with Marketing, Sales, Quality Assurance, Regulatory, and Commercialization teams.Support commercialization efforts by delivering robust formulations, specifications, and technical documentation.Participate in stage-gate reviews and innovation pipeline readiness assessments.Regulatory & Quality ComplianceEnsure product formulations comply with all applicable food safety and regulatory requirements (FDA, USDA, labeling).Collaborate with QA and Regulatory teams on ingredient approvals, claims substantiation, and documentation.Maintain accurate and complete R&D records, formulations, and trial results.Continuous Improvement & Trend MonitoringStay current on food trends, emerging ingredients, processing technologies, and competitive products.Identify opportunities for product renovation, cost reduction, and quality improvement.Champion a culture of innovation, experimentation, and scientific rigor.What You BringEducation & ExperienceBachelor's degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, Chemistry, or a related field (Master's preferred).7+ years of experience in food product development or R&D, with at least 3 years in a leadership role.Demonstrated success bringing food products from concept through pilot-scale development.Technical SkillsStrong knowledge of food formulation, ingredient functionality, and processing principles.Why Join Us?Direct-hire role with long-term career growth and stability.Lead innovation with a high level of ownership and visibility.Collaborate with cross-functional teams in a quality-driven organization.Competitive compensation, bonus potential, and a consistent weekday schedule.Ready to make an impact? Apply today and take the next step in your R&D leadership career.