We're seeking an R&D Manager to join our team in Perham, MN, at our candy and confections facility. This full-time role will focus on creating new product formulations, overseeing R&D processes, maintaining product quality, and developing relationships with customers and suppliers.
Essential Responsibilities
- Oversee new product formulation, understanding ingredient functionality and effects on processing (brix, pH, texture); collaborate with customers to align on flavor, nutrition, and label claims.
- Coordinate with purchasing and suppliers to acquire materials for trials; handle paperwork and logistics for new ingredients, ensuring relevant departments complete requests.
- Organize benchtop and trial samples for shelf life analysis; transfer formulas from benchtop to production trials and modify current formulations as directed by management.
- Research market trends to develop innovative products and processes; present projects to stakeholders, providing data to evaluate new opportunities.
- Collaborate with third parties to develop products beyond existing capabilities; maintain nutritional database and labeling, creating and verifying panels for packaging.
- Manage, monitor, and document plant trials and initial production runs, including providing instructions and data collection during trials.
- Source and test new ingredients as needed; operate equipment for sample production and assist Quality and other departments with troubleshooting.
- Communicate with department heads, customers, and suppliers to address quality issues; prepare reports for customers and department leads and update the sales team on project timelines.
- Lead and guide R&D staff, fostering continuous improvement and best practices; empower team members for independent decision-making and development.
- Collaborate with production leaders to establish and implement standard practices; optimize resources within budget and support team growth and advancement.
Qualifications
- 5+ years in product development and formulation in Food Science, with confectionery experience
- BS degree in Food Science
- Strong understanding of multi-ingredient functionality
- Self-motivated with basic computer proficiency
- Excellent communication and organizational skills
- Effective team collaboration skills
