Job Description

Research and Development Director – Food

Chicago, IL

$160,000 - $185,000 + 20% Bonus + Extensive Training + Food Safety Certifications + Exceptional Benefits + Competitive PTO + Holiday + 401(k) + Weekends Off!

Are you an experienced food R&D professional with a proven track record of managing teams and operations across multiple sites? Ready to step into a Director role where you can drive innovation, develop new products, and oversee major R&D initiatives?

Are you looking to join a market leader in a rapid growth phase with a portfolio of food brands, committed to investing in cutting-edge machinery, exciting new product development, and the growth of its people?

This industry-leading food manufacturer is known for its wide range of high-quality products and sustained success. With multiple state-of-the-art facilities across the US and a strong track record of growth, including recent acquisitions, they are now seeking an R&D Director to lead innovation, develop new products, improve existing products, and drive technical excellence across multiple sites.

This brand-new role offers the opportunity to lead R&D across multiple sites and large teams, collaborating closely with Marketing, Sales, Operations, and Supply Chain. You will drive new ideas from concept through commercialization, ensuring compliance with USDA, FDA, and other regulatory standards, and oversee large-scale R&D projects across the organization.

This role is ideal for an experienced food R&D professional looking to step into a Director position, lead key projects across multiple sites, and drive innovation across the organization.

The Role:

• Develop and lead R&D strategy across multiple sites, driving innovation from concept to commercialization
• Oversee product development, testing, scale-up, and compliance with USDA/FDA standards
• Lead, coach, and mentor technical teams while managing R&D budgets and resources

The Person:

• Experience leading food R&D projects across multiple sites
• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Engineering, or a related field
• Experienced leader of technical teams with strong food processing, and safety knowledge

Key Words: Research & Development Leadership, Innovation Strategy, Cross-functional Leadership, Team Development, Mentorship, Strategic Roadmap, New Product Development (NPD), Product Innovation, Reformulation, Product Optimization, Clean Label Development, Sensory Evaluation, Shelf-life Studies, Food Chemistry, Food Technology, Process Development, Scale-up from Pilot to Production, Manufacturing Process Optimization, Continuous Improvement, Cost Reduction Initiatives, Regulatory Compliance, FDA, USDA, CFIA, EFSA, Food Safety, HACCP, FSMA, SQF, BRC, Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Market Trend Analysis, Customer Collaboration, Commercialization, Intellectual Property, Patents, Sustainability Initiatives, Formulation Development, Pilot Plant Operations, Ingredient Functionality, Process Engineering, Data-driven Decision Making

To apply for this role or to be considered for further roles, please click "Apply Now" or contact Seamus Curtin at Rise Technical Recruitment.

Rise Technical Recruitment Ltd acts an employment agency for permanent roles and an employment business for temporary roles.

The salary advertised is the bracket available for this position. The actual salary paid will be dependent on your level of experience, qualifications and skill set. We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

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