Vice President of Research and Development

Vice President, Research & Development- CaliforniaWe are seeking a Vice President of R&D to lead the next phase of innovation within a fast-growing, mission-driven consumer food organization. This role goes beyond traditional research leadership, positioning R&D as a core driver of commercial success and global expansion.The ideal candidate is a forward-thinking leader who can reimagine how research and product development operate- building the team, systems, and strategy required to deliver impactful, scalable solutions. As a key member of the senior leadership team, you will play a central role in shaping innovation strategy and translating technical capabilities into revenue-generating products.This position sits at the intersection of science, product development, and business execution. You will work closely with customers and internal stakeholders to understand real-world challenges and convert those insights into practical, market-ready solutions. With a strong foundation already in place, the focus now is on accelerating commercialization, expanding into new applications, and building a repeatable innovation engine that can scale efficiently across markets.Key Responsibilities• Build and Lead the Innovation Function• Design and lead a lean, high-performing R&D organization focused on speed, accountability, and impact• Foster a culture that balances curiosity, pragmatism, and executionTranslate Science into Business Results• Drive enhancements to existing products with a focus on commercial readiness• Ensure R&D decisions are guided by clear business metrics such as market potential, margin, and scalability• Own the full lifecycle from problem identification through development, validation, and launch• Deliver solutions that are not only technically sound, but also practical, cost-effective, and scalableDrive a Dual Innovation Strategy• Near-Term Impact: Improve current offerings through rapid iteration, field validation, and customer feedback• Future Growth: Develop a pipeline of new products and applications to support long-term expansionEstablish Scalable R&D Systems• Build infrastructure that enables rapid testing, iteration, and deployment• Implement clear prioritization frameworks based on ROI and time-to-market• Introduce structured development processes with defined decision points• Ensure efficient use of resources while enabling growth• Develop testing protocols that reflect real-world conditions• Leverage digital and computational tools where they accelerate developmentChampion Customer-Centric Innovation• Engage directly with end users to understand operational realities• Translate customer needs into actionable product development prioritiesCollaborate Across the Organization• Partner with commercial, operations, and supply chain teams to ensure alignment• Contribute to strategic decision-making as part of the leadership teamYour Background• Demonstrated success launching products from concept through commercialization• Experience scaling solutions from early-stage development to broad market adoption• Background in areas such as food technology, materials science, or related fields• Track record in dynamic, growth-oriented environments• Strong leadership across technical and business functionsWhat Sets You Apart• Ability to connect technical decisions to business outcomes• Comfortable engaging in strategic debate and bringing new perspectives to complex challenges• Well-connected within the innovation ecosystem, with awareness of emerging technologies and partnerships• Strong judgment in balancing exploration with execution• Operates with urgency and adaptability in evolving environments• Combines vision-setting with hands-on leadership• Makes decisions effectively despite ambiguity or incomplete data• Encourages collaboration and shared success• Focuses on delivering real-world impact, not just technical achievement