R&D Manager

Location: Santa Fe Springs, CA Salary: $140,000.00 USD Annually - $155,000.00 USD Annually Description:
R&D Manager
Position Details

• Position: R&D Manager
• Reports To: VP of R&D
• Direct Reports: R&D Formulators, Lab Supervisor, and Temporary Lab Associates
• Compensation: $140,000 to $155,000 base salary + 10% bonus opportunity
• Schedule: Onsite, Monday through Friday during standard business hours. Occasional Saturday work may be required to support project timelines.

Required Qualifications

• Experience managing R&D projects, including new product development, process optimization, cost reduction initiatives, and raw material evaluations.
• Hands-on formulation expertise with strong knowledge of ingredient functionality, troubleshooting, and prototype development.
• Ability to serve as the primary R&D contact for customers and internal stakeholders, providing technical guidance and project updates.
• Experience tracking and reporting R&D performance metrics, including project delivery, laboratory capacity, throughput, and technical transfer success.
• Proven leadership experience developing and managing technical staff through training, coaching, and mentoring.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual in Spanish and English.

About the Role
We are seeking an experienced R&D Manager to lead product development and formulation projects from concept through commercialization. This hands-on leadership role is responsible for overseeing the R&D team, driving project execution, providing technical expertise, and partnering with cross-functional teams including Sales, Quality, Regulatory, Operations, and Procurement.
The ideal candidate combines strong formulation and product development expertise with proven leadership, project management, and customer-facing experience.
Key Responsibilities

• Lead multiple R&D projects, including new product development, formulation optimization, cost reduction initiatives, and raw material evaluations from concept through commercialization.
• Provide technical leadership for formulation development, ingredient selection, troubleshooting, experimental design, prototype development, sensory evaluation, and pilot-scale testing.
• Manage technical transfers to manufacturing and ensure products are production-ready with complete and accurate documentation.
• Supervise and develop R&D personnel through coaching, training, performance management, and workload planning.
• Partner with Sales and customers on product feasibility assessments, formulation development, technical inquiries, project timelines, and issue resolution.
• Lead root cause investigations and corrective actions related to formulation, processing, equipment, and technical product concerns.
• Represent R&D in cross-functional project and commercialization meetings.
• Manage stability studies, shelf-life programs, product specifications, standard operating procedures, and technical documentation.
• Ensure laboratory activities comply with applicable quality, safety, and regulatory requirements, including cGMP, HACCP, SQF, and relevant FDA regulations.
• Monitor project timelines, resource allocation, laboratory capacity, and departmental performance metrics.
• Identify and implement opportunities to improve R&D effectiveness through digital tools, automation, AI-enabled processes, and enhanced reporting capabilities.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Engineering, or a related scientific discipline.
• 5+ years of product development, formulation, or R&D experience in a manufacturing environment.
• 2+ years of experience leading or supervising technical, laboratory, or R&D teams.
• Strong hands-on formulation and product development experience.
• Working knowledge of cGMP, HACCP, SQF, and applicable FDA regulations.
• Experience managing multiple concurrent projects and priorities.
• Strong analytical, organizational, communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing products such as soft chews, bars, dragees, pan-coated products, or similar consumer packaged goods.
• Customer-facing technical experience, including presentations, project reviews, and issue resolution.
• Experience supporting NSF, USP, Informed Sport, or comparable quality certification programs.
• SQF Practitioner, PCQI, HACCP, or related certifications.
• Formal project management or technical leadership training.
• Bilingual (Spanish/English).

Work Environment
This is a full-time, onsite leadership position in a laboratory and manufacturing environment. The role requires collaboration across multiple departments and active participation in product development, scale-up, and commercialization activities. Occasional schedule flexibility may be required to support project and production needs.
Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision available
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