R&D Manager, Baked Goods

Overview

In this hands-on leadership role you drive the development and commercialization of premium bakery products from concept through launch. You will lead cross-functional collaboration with Operations, QA, and Commercial teams to translate bench results into scalable production. You’ll manage multiple R&D projects, champion product improvements, and supervise a small team. This position offers ownership of the sites R&D agenda within a growing bakery manufacturing business.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and commercialization of new bakery products from concept to manufacturing launch
• Manage multiple R&D and technical projects with timelines, priorities, resources, and deliverables
• Oversee product improvement, reformulation, quality enhancement and cost-reduction initiatives
• Lead and develop a small R&D team with coaching and performance feedback
• Collaborate with Operations, QA and other technical teams to implement new products, ingredients, and processes
• Plan and conduct laboratory and plant trials and translate results into practical recommendations
• Troubleshoot formulation and processing issues with manufacturing teams
• Develop and maintain product formulations, process specs, and technical documentation
• Provide hands-on technical support during factory trials, scale-up and launches
• Assess technical and commercial risks of new products and changes and communicate recommendations
• Support manufacturing initiatives including new capabilities, process improvements, productivity, and cost optimization
• Ensure knowledge transfer of specifications to Quality and Operations
• Work with cross-functional stakeholders to keep projects on track and ensure commercialization

Key requirements

• Degree in Food Science or Food Engineering or related discipline with strong baking knowledge
• 5+ years in bakery or food product development/manufacturing
• 3+ years leading or supervising an R&D/product development team
• Experience taking products through formulation, prototyping, plant trials, scale-up and commercialization
• Strong understanding of bakery ingredients, formulations and manufacturing processes
• Excellent bench development and troubleshooting skills
• Ability to work on the manufacturing floor and translate technical solutions into scalable processes
• Strong analytical skills for trial design and results interpretation
• Excellent communication across technical and commercial functions
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and familiarity with ERP and document-management systems
• Understanding of US and Canadian food regulations and standards
• Culinary training or professional baking experience is an advantage
• Willingness to travel up to ~30% and occasional extended hours around trials

• Strong communication
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Problem solving
• Baking science
• Product formulation and reformulation
• Bench development and troubleshooting

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