Director of R&D

DIRECTOR PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

JOB DESCRIPTION

We are seeking a dynamic and detail-oriented Director of Product Development who embodies a unique balance of creativity and practicality. The ideal candidate is self-motivated, driven, team-oriented, and possesses a deep passion for innovation in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry. This senior leadership role requires extensive experience in research and development within the food and beverage sector, with a strong emphasis on product development. The Director will lead collaborative development teams to invent novel ideas and techniques, staying abreast of industry trends and advancements. Additionally, this role involves leading and coordinating client meetings to ensure project timelines are on track, identifying any gaps, proposing recommended solutions, and owning the client relationship. This is an opportunity to dream big and create foods that, outside our lab, are considered groundbreaking. Product categories include, but are not limited to:

• Chocolate & Confections

• Prepared & Frozen Foods

• Baked Goods / Biscuits, Cookies & Crackers

• Snacks

• Beverages

• Breakfast Foods

ABOUT CHEW

Chew is a mission-driven, food and beverage innovation company founded with the revolutionary notion that today’s consumers shouldn't have to choose between what tastes good, and what’s good for you.

We have always believed in challenging the status quo in order to arrive at innovative new solutions.

We partner with major industry players who have a desire for disruptive innovation, but require our experience, flexibility and focus. We break down barriers with a fresh perspective, deep and varied expertise, and creative problem solving to tackle challenges at every step of the go-to-market process in order to create delicious, nutritious, sustainable, profitable, and scalable products.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Provide operational, functional, and technical leadership to the team to assure effective product development and implementation planning, resourcing, and prioritization to meet objectives

• Foster and maintain a winning team culture that expects excellence, that rewards teamwork, results, problem solving, and innovative thinking, and that recognizes initiative, creativity and work well done

• Work with senior leadership in identifying, implementing, and enforcing best practices in the areas of product development, commercialization, project management, leadership, science & engineering, and product quality

• Accountable for driving research against sound scientific principles and methodologies that assure the highest quality standards across the team

• Participate in the development of policies, procedures, practices, and processes to enhance overall product development outcomes, quality assurance, and cost effectiveness

• Establish external relationships, and maintain memberships and leadership roles in relevant professional industry organizations, to gather competitive intelligence on restaurant and snack products; may also attend relevant trade association events to further develop industry expertise, knowledge and network

• Build relationships with existing and potential food service and co-manufacturing partners to develop mutually beneficial product solutions

• Coordinate planning sessions with existing and potential clients to discuss new and expanded opportunities, and serve as a subject matter expert in food science

• Attract, develop and retain highly effective professionals and support staff; oversee people processes and programs to cultivate a bench of leadership and talent to deliver results and support future growth

• Identify individual and team skill gaps, developmental areas, and opportunities (e.g., training, special assignments, projects, etc.) to advance individual and team capability

• Evaluate and determine hiring, promotion, salary recommendations, and all employment-related decisions

• Manage the team’s expenses against the team's annual budget

WHAT YOU WILL BRING TO CHEW

For this role, we’re seeking candidates