About the Role
The R&D Manager is responsible for leading multiple projects on soft-ripened cheeses across several business segments and geographical locations. This role may also be required to work on cream cheese, blue cheese, process cheese, and goat cheese with R&D or other cross-functional team members.
Key Activities
Independently provide leadership and oversight to technical development projects, bringing project management, ingredient, formulation, and commercialization/industrialization scale-up expertise.
Comfortable with all aspects of the soft ripened cheese development process from ideation to bench-top work and to industrialization. Must be able to work independently in the cheese plant and effectively conduct full-scale line trials including finished product evaluation.
Capable of innovation, creativity, and engaging with customers on project ideation, translating customer desires to our production and technical capabilities, while managing multiple priorities independently.
Proactively identify challenges and recommend solutions and develop expertise in soft ripened cheese processing plants. Able to effectively course-correct when deviations to timelines and milestones occur and effectively communicate to the cross-functional team should that occur.
Able to effectively mentor junior team members with such topics as experimental design, product development, cost control, commercialization, and troubleshooting. Ability to foster a learning environment which captures and effectively retains knowledge.
Works well with others and can effectively create and maintain a cross-functional team working environment. Has the ability to influence without authority and lead through ambiguity to bring clarity.
Assumes responsibility for business segment needs, i.e., ideation, identify and deliver innovation, participate as the R&D representative at customer business meetings/trade shows.
Works with cross-functional team to ensure all projects are suitably scoped and risks assessed. Subsequently able to participate in annual planning to establish and adhere to budgets. Ability to leverage data to identify issues and subsequently identify and implement corrective actions.
Independently capable of teaching/training individuals/groups on formulations/reformulations of complex food products that push the boundaries of cheese processing technology.
Develops excellent customer relationships that support common business growth and goals of success; capable of working with a cross-functional team to resolve customer problems and set forward plans.
Responsible for adhering to all quality system requirements. Ability to work various shifts to ensure proper start-up and completion of R&D Projects. Follows plant rules & complies with applicable regulatory standards.
Preferred Skills
Ability to manage people and teams is a plus.
Cream cheese, goat cheese, and blue cheese experience is a plus.
Speaking and writing another language besides English is a plus.
Education and Experience
4-year degree in Food Science/Physical Sciences. Experience in a high-speed food manufacturing environment and product development
4-8 years of increasing responsibilities experience in food development, project management, commercialization, and managing people
Minimum 3 years' experience working and developing Soft Ripened Cheese products or blue cheese.
About Us
Finding a great opportunity that fosters growth, a great culture, and leadership opportunities can be difficult. Top Quality Recruitment (TQR) connects professionals with leadership opportunities across the Packaging, Food and Beverage, Medical Devices, and Biotechnology industries. With 50+ years of experience, we believe in one-to-one communication and finding the best candidate/employer match possible.
TQR is an equal-opportunity employer that encourages diversity. We will consider all applications.
Accommodation for applicants with disabilities is available upon request.
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