R&D Manager - 1440 Foods Manufacturing

1440 Foods is a sports and active nutrition company on a mission to help energize people to unleash their potential with a focused portfolio of accessible, great-tasting health and wellness brands: Pure Protein® nutrition bars; and Body Fortress® high efficacy protein powders; MET-Rx® high-performance meal replacements. Join our fun, fast-paced company to be a part of growing 1440 Foods into the future!

Position Overview:

The R&D Manager will lead local end-to-end Product Development activities across 1440 Foods' nutritional bars and powdered beverage portfolio. The successful candidate will be instrumental in the definition, prioritization, and execution of day-to-day activities enabling the effective execution of Innovation and Brand Maintenance initiatives. The incumbent will work closely with a diverse technical team to influence, plan, and deliver the Local R&D and Commercialization agenda.

Job Responsibilities:

• Partners with line manager in the effective planning and executionof product development activities (i.e. innovation, cost-reduction, business continuity, and efficiencies), driving cost savings and efficiencies across all bar and powdered beverage platforms.
  
• Successfully leads the R&D team through the entire product development cycle, ensuring flawless execution from benchtop to full-scale commercial production.
• Guarantees that all initiatives meet the product development brief, including technical requirements (sensory, functionality, shelf-life, and regulatory) and performance specifications such as cost and operational feasibility.
• Drives a data- and scientific-driven product development process, translating analytical and sensory results into effective and actionable technical solutions.
• Effectively leads the R&D team in addressing technical challenges related to ingredient/technology scouting, ingredient substitution, complex formulation, process scale-up/optimization. Drives the technical validation process to ensure that all products meet rigorous quality standards and are ready for commercialization.
• Oversees the planning and execution of benchtop, pilot, and full-scale plant production (including internal and external partners)
• Establishes and executes best R&D practices including lab management, agile development, rapid prototyping, decision-making tools/procedures to flawlessly develop, scale, validate, and launch products
• Effectively manages multiple, concurrent projects by prioritizing tasks, allocating resources efficiently, and coordinating cross-functional teams to ensure timely completion. Demonstrates strong organizational skills and the ability to balance competing demands while maintaining a high standard of quality across all deliverables.
• Acts as a role model for effective teamwork, building relationships within the internal cross-functional teams and with external partners.
• Leads a highly technical and capable R&D team with focus on developing/mentoring team members and building a strong inclusive team culture.

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities:

• Strategic technical mindset with a keen ability to think broadly, prioritize effectively, and develop analytical frameworks to solve technical challenges.
• Operates effectively in a matrixed environment and demonstrates effective collaboration and influencing across multiple layers.
• Excellent communication skills with ability to effectively communicate these to the broader team.
• Excellent project management skills with ability to prioritize multiple activities simultaneously in a fast-paced environment. Comfortable leading through change and ambiguity.
• Proven talent development skills with strong sense of engagement while fostering diversity, inclusion and belonging within the organization.
• Self-directed with a demonstrated sense of accountability and with ability to adapt to the changing needs of a dynamic growth-oriented business.
• Effective leadership, teamwork and organizational skills.

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Food/Chemical Engineering, or equivalent required. Advanced degree preferred.
• 8+ years of experience in Food/Beverage Consumer Packaged Goods industry with at least 4 years of experience managing teams through the entire product development cycle; Experience in Dairy and/or Nutritional products preferred.
• Active knowledge and experience in planning and conducting a variety of sensory evaluations, effectively drawing conclusions to navigate product development and technical validation.
• Experience working with nutritional software, technical and quality systems. Experience with Excel, ESHA Genesis, project management software, and/or Trace Gains preferred.

Work Environment:

Exposure to both the office setting and food manufacturing facility.

• Significant amount of time working at a computer station.
  
• Occasional visits to various areas of the manufacturing floor.
  • Must wear required PPE while in all manufacturing areas.
  • Moving parts and machinery are present in the plant.

Physical demands:

• Frequent sitting, standing, or walking.
• Occasional ability to lift up to 20lbs.
• Noise levels will vary, higher noise levels exist while in the plant operations areas.