Research And Development Manager

R&D Manager - Fresh Food Production

Richmond, CA | Full-Time | On-Site

About the Company:

We are a leading fresh food production company with over 30 years of experience crafting artisan, grab-and-go meals for retail and foodservice partners throughout California. Our 40,000 sq. ft. USDA-, FDA-, CDPH-approved, and SQF Level 2 certified facility produces over 30,000 fresh, pre-packaged items daily. We are committed to quality, food safety, and innovation, using local ingredients and in-house preparation.

Position Overview:

We are seeking a Research & Development (R&D) Manager to lead the development and innovation of new food products, ensuring alignment with food safety standards, customer expectations, and operational capabilities. The ideal candidate is a highly organized, strategic thinker with strong communication skills and deep experience in food R&D.

Key Responsibilities:

Product Development & Innovation

• Lead the development of new food products from concept to commercialization.
• Identify and explore new technologies, ingredients, and trends to drive innovation.
• Ensure all new products align with current market demands, company capabilities, and customer expectations.

Food Safety & Compliance

• Work within existing HACCP plans; determine when new HACCPs are required and communicate with QA accordingly.
• Ensure all R&D activities meet USDA, FDA, SQF, and CDPH standards.
• Collaborate with food safety and quality assurance teams to maintain compliance across product lines.

Project & Team Management

• Develop and implement R&D strategies, timelines, and milestones.
• Manage R&D projects, from ideation through launch, including documentation and testing.
• Lead and mentor the R&D team, fostering a collaborative, innovation-driven environment.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with procurement to source ingredients that meet pricing, quality, and customer requirements.
• Collaborate with sales, production, and operations teams to ensure feasibility and alignment of new products.
• Communicate project updates and research findings clearly to internal stakeholders and external customers or vendors.

Qualifications:

• Proven experience (5+ years) in R&D within the food manufacturing industry.
• Strong knowledge of HACCP and food safety regulations.
• Experience working in USDA-regulated facilities; SQF experience is a plus.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills; able to manage multiple priorities.
• Effective communicator with the ability to represent the company professionally to customers, vendors, and partners.
• Strategic thinker with a passion for innovation and continuous improvement.