Job Openings Director of R&D

About the job Director of R&D

DIRECTOR PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

JOB DESCRIPTION

We are seeking a dynamic and detail-oriented Director of Product Development who embodies a unique balance of creativity and practicality. The ideal candidate is self-motivated, driven, team-oriented, and possesses a deep passion for innovation in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry. This senior leadership role requires extensive experience in research and development within the food and beverage sector, with a strong emphasis on product development. The Director will lead collaborative development teams to invent novel ideas and techniques, staying abreast of industry trends and advancements. Additionally, this role involves leading and coordinating client meetings to ensure project timelines are on track, identifying any gaps, proposing recommended solutions, and owning the client relationship. This is an opportunity to dream big and create foods that, outside our lab, are considered groundbreaking. Product categories include, but are not limited to:


  • Chocolate & Confections

  • Prepared & Frozen Foods

  • Baked Goods / Biscuits, Cookies & Crackers

  • Snacks

  • Beverages

  • Breakfast Foods


ABOUT CHEW

Chew is a mission-driven, food and beverage innovation company founded with the revolutionary notion that today’s consumers shouldn't have to choose between what tastes good, and what’s good for you.

We have always believed in challenging the status quo in order to arrive at innovative new solutions.

We partner with major industry players who have a desire for disruptive innovation, but require our experience, flexibility and focus. We break down barriers with a fresh perspective, deep and varied expertise, and creative problem solving to tackle challenges at every step of the go-to-market process in order to create delicious, nutritious, sustainable, profitable, and scalable products.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

  • Provide operational, functional, and technical leadership to the team to assure effective product development and implementation planning, resourcing, and prioritization to meet objectives

  • Foster and maintain a winning team culture that expects excellence, that rewards teamwork, results, problem solving, and innovative thinking, and that recognizes initiative, creativity and work well done

  • Work with senior leadership in identifying, implementing, and enforcing best practices in the areas of product development, commercialization, project management, leadership, science & engineering, and product quality

  • Accountable for driving research against sound scientific principles and methodologies that assure the highest quality standards across the team




  • Participate in the development of policies, procedures, practices, and processes to enhance overall product development outcomes, quality assurance, and cost effectiveness

  • Establish external relationships, and maintain memberships and leadership roles in relevant professional industry organizations, to gather competitive intelligence on restaurant and snack products; may also attend relevant trade association events to further develop industry expertise, knowledge and network

  • Build relationships with existing and potential food service and co-manufacturing partners to develop mutually beneficial product solutions

  • Coordinate planning sessions with existing and potential clients to discuss new and expanded opportunities, and serve as a subject matter expert in food science

  • Attract, develop and retain highly effective professionals and support staff; oversee people processes and programs to cultivate a bench of leadership and talent to deliver results and support future growth

  • Identify individual and team skill gaps, developmental areas, and opportunities (e.g., training, special assignments, projects, etc.) to advance individual and team capability

  • Evaluate and determine hiring, promotion, salary recommendations, and all employment-related decisions

  • Manage the team’s expenses against the team's annual budget

WHAT YOU WILL BRING TO CHEW

For this role, we’re seeking candidates with the following qualifications:

  • BS in Food Science or Food Engineering required; graduate degree (MS/PhD) is preferred

  • At least 10 years of experience in research and development within the food and beverage industry, with at least 5-7 years of hands-on experience in CPG product development and commercialization across multiple product lines

  • Proven ability to transform ideas and concepts to realizable, actionable, and repeatable manufacturing recipes and formulas

  • At least 5 years of experience leading successful multi-disciplinary product development teams

  • Proven history of mentorship and development of junior associates to take on increasing responsibility and tasks


Other skills and attributes which will contribute to success in this role:

  • High impact, results-oriented, persuasive and visible leadership style

  • Self-directed with the ability to independently resolve issues, and to manage client relationships and project deliverables

  • Energetic, curious, positive, can-do attitude, with a strong sense of urgency and attention to detail

  • Demonstrated knowledge of and adherence to stringent food safety standards

  • Ability to deliver results in a lean, unstructured, fast paced, deadline-driven environment, and to balance multiple and changing priorities

  • Ability to effectively mentor, coach, and evaluate team members to create a strong and collaborative team

  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to comfortably interact across all levels internally and within client organizations

  • Strong presentation skills with a demonstrated ability to communicate accurate and effective presentations to a variety of audiences (e.g. internal/external, technical/non-technical)

  • Demonstrated ability to garner external partner enthusiasm and support for next-generation product concepts

  • Experience with ingredient research or ingredient science and application

  • Advanced knowledge of food science, product development and consumer research trends within the food industry

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

  • The ability to travel domestically and internationally, up to 25% of the time, is essential

  • The ability to bend, to stand and to reach above shoulder-level is necessary; occasional lifting of up to 30 pounds will be required