R&D Director (Food Manufacturing)

Key Responsibilities:

Focus on Innovation and Quality

• Lead the ideation, conceptualization, and development of new bakery, cake, and pastry products that meet the specific needs and preferences of customers and to support the sales and marketing efforts of a company.
• Lead the innovations development with best-in-class culinary sense, leveraging internal and external resources, with the goal of building a continuous and impressive innovations pipeline for customers.
• Formulate new bakery, cake and pastries recipes and engage in recipe optimization for continuously improving product quality, shelf-life, as well as cost effectiveness and production efficiency.
• Collaborate with the culinary team to create prototypes, conduct sensory evaluations, and gather feedback for recipe enhancements.

Focus on Manufacturing Processes & Equipment Capability

• Understand existing capabilities from equipment to facilitate ‘low-hanging fruit’ opportunities to be proposed to sales team.
• Convert conceptual prototypes into mass production products while leveraging the best use of equipment and facility.
• Implement new technologies and equipment to improve production.

Focus on Research and Market Trends

• Conduct research to identify market needs and trends, customer needs, and competitor offerings to support new innovations development.
• Work with sales and marketing teams to determine how the research findings can be aligned with company’s strategic direction.
• Work closely with ingredient vendors, packaging vendors and R&D consultants to develop and generate new capabilities to be used in new innovations for customers.

Provide Overall R&D Leadership

• Manage and mentor a team of food scientists, technicians, culinary professionals and work with R&D associates to ensure samples are prepared on time.
• Set performance goals, provide coaching and mentoring, and conduct regular performance evaluations. Foster a collaborative and innovative work environment.
• Develop and maintain an effective R&D process work flow that properly assigns accountability and prioritizes projects.
• Develop and manage the R&D budget, including resource allocation for projects.
• Ensure cost-effective sourcing of ingredients and materials.
• Maintain accurate records of recipes, experiments, and research findings.
• Generate reports and presentations for senior management and collaborate with marketing, sales, and packaging teams to ensure product success in the market.
• Engage with suppliers to source high-quality ingredients and explore new possibilities.
• Develop and implement quality control protocols to ensure consistent product quality.
• Collaborate with quality assurance and production teams to address any product quality issues.
• Ensure compliance with food safety and regulatory standards

Skills and Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum 6 years’ experience in product development and R&D in the food industry, with a focus on cakes or baked goods.
• Strong knowledge of food chemistry, ingredient functionality, and food safety regulations.
• Minimum 6 years’ management experience with strongleadership and management skills, with the ability to lead and inspire a team.
• Experience in developing retail products is an asset.
• Excellent communication and project management skills.
• Creative problem-solving abilities.
• Strong analytical, research skills and problem-solving skills. .
• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Fluency in English