R&D Manager - Food Service

• Ensure compliance with all applicable safety, regulatory, GMP requirements in lab, pilot plant and manufacturing facilities
• Provide technical consumer/customer knowledge for assigned business segments. Partner with Marketing to understand the consumer
• Support and manage strategic plans while utilizing consumer insights
• Identify and promote the evaluation of new technologies in relation to the assigned business segment
• Manage activities and assign projects to associates to ensure effective allocation of resources with minimum guidance. Champion the NPD process. Provide resource estimates for NPD projects
• Demonstrate proficient knowledge of the competitive landscape and how the Company fits in
• Manage the growth and promotability of direct reports through coaching and frequent on-going performance feedback
• Partner with Marketing, Operations and other relevant functions to establish priorities closely aligned with business needs. Maintain an updated project list of current projects being worked on for the assigned business segment
• Serve as technical interface with cross functional partners in support of new products and improvement initiatives
• Make educated decisions in support of managing the business segment for which the position is assigned
• Manage or provide support in managing budgetary line items as assigned

• Bachelor’s degree in Food/Meat Science or related field with 7 years of related work experience
• Experience in product development process from idea generation, bench top, scale up and commercialization
• Expert knowledge in poultry processing and/or related food product systems
• Strong leadership experience as a cross-functional team player including prior supervisory and project management experience
• Excellent communication, detail orientation and organizational skills, along with excellent analytical and presentation skills
• Ability to translate customer/consumer needs and business objectives into innovative new product design requirements
• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time

Master’s/PhD with 10 years of related work experience

• medical/Rx
• 401(k) with employer match after 1 year
• critical illness
• accident insurance
• dental
• vision
• life insurance
• optional group life insurance
• short-term and long-term disability protection
• flexible spending accounts
• paid time off
• annual bonus available (variable depending on performance)