R&D Coordinator

About Unreal

We're on a mission to unjunk the world, starting with our favorite food group: CHOCOLATE.

Our story began when two kids who loved candy got tired of being told they couldn't eat it. All their favorites were filled with artificial ingredients, excess sugar, and stuff they couldn't pronounce. Why did something that tasted so good have to be so bad for them? OR DID IT?

That question inspired our mission: to unjunk the world. Unreal was born, and it sparked a ripple of change. With real, simple ingredients, no artificial anything, way less sugar, and unbelievable taste, those kids proved that better was possible (and, well, better).

Today, we're shaking up an old-school industry, winning over a devoted fanbase, and showing up on more and more shelves every day.

Job Summary

We are seeking an R&D Coordinator to join our Founder-led Product R&D team and play a key role in coordinating product initiatives. This role is ideal for a highly motivated coordinator with a foundation in a product-centric organization, and a demonstrated ability to coordinate the daily activities necessary to bring product development projects to life.

The R&D Coordinator will support the execution of product development projects by assisting with key tasks that help ensure alignment with our brand standards and operational requirements. In this role, you’ll help coordinate procurement activities, organize documentation, and support process development and project tracking.

You will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including PMO, Quality, and Procurement to support feasibility, cost, and production readiness across internal and co-manufacturing environments.

The R&D Coordinator will be a member of the Unreal Product R&D team and report to the Senior Director, Product while interfacing with the Founder and external partners regularly. 

 

What You’ll Do

• Follow and continuously improve process templates that ensure consistent repeatability of key product development processes and drive the execution of new product launches, product improvements, and new ingredient sourcing.
• Support the Unreal team in streamlining project execution and improve timeliness in delivery and communication to optimize and grow our manufacturing and supplier relationships. You will also support the scaling of external partnerships by consistently interfacing with key manufacturers and material supply partners. 
• Procure, coordinate, and ship materials to manufacturers, and place purchase orders, track shipments, and communicate consistently with Unreal team-members and external partners to meet deadlines and ensure smooth execution.
• Support internal trial planning and execution during innovation and redundancy projects, and contribute to real-time internal problem solving as needed to ensure successful commercialization.
• Maintain organized project updates and documentation to ensure clear, timely cross-functional communication and easy access for the Product R&D team.
• Streamline collaboration and handoffs between Product R&D and Operations by managing key documents, including material specifications, product specifications, and manufacturer files. 

 

Who You Are

• 1-3 years of hands-on product development experience, including contributions to teams that scaled products from benchtop to pilot through commercial production. 
• Prior exposure to product development projects, ideally with confectionary products; food development project experience is a plus.
• You are highly organized and have a strong attention to detail; Asana and/or Monday experience is a plus.
• You are obsessed with product integrity and experience, most likely because you have a personal passion and commitment as a better-for-you consumer yourself.
• You are energized by the opportunity to gain experience in supporting sourcing, documentation, and manufacturing partnerships. 
• Experience in high-growth, entrepreneurial environments is strongly preferred; exposure to founder-led organizations is a plus.
• You hold very high standards for yourself, expecting excellence in not only what you deliver, but how you deliver it as well.

 

While Unreal’s culture is remote-first, our team highly values occasional in-person collaboration. As a result, Unreal team members get together for departmental and company-wide events a few times per year. Employees at Unreal are expected to attend apart from extenuating circumstances.

 

The base compensation range for this position is between $70K - $90K annually. This position is also eligible for a 10% bonus. The salary range listed reflects the minimum and maximum targe