Sr. Manager, R&D, Global Brands

Work Location: ​Chicago​

Due to the highly interactive and team-based nature of this role, in-person attendance for most of the workweek (i.e., 3 days or more) is essential for: effective communication including during in-person meetings, strong supervision, real-time problem-solving, and participation in cross-functional initiatives.

Want to make an impact?

The Sr. R&D Product Development Manager is a strategic partner to develop and execute new products, business strategy, and leads a team of Food Scientists to deliver new products and optimization projects for the Global Brands Team.  

Ways you will make a difference

• The Sr. Manager, R&D, Global Brands leads a team of Food Scientists, and works closely with Marketing, Consumer Insights, Operations, Engineering, Packaging, Quality teams to develop and deliver new products from concept development through scale up and commercialization. 
• Responsible for managing resources to meet project demands across all streams of work allocation and budget for staff. 
• Collaborates with Marketing, Consumer Insights, and Industrial to develop a robust innovation pipeline for Global Brands.
• Guides and drives rigorous technical development plans to enable flawless execution of products from benchtop to manufacturing.
• Leads continuous improvement/optimization of current products according to business needs, supply situation and/or manufacturing expansion plans
• Identifies and explores new areas of technical opportunities and solutions.
• Responsible for developing and coaching direct reports to enable delivery of projects.
• Act as local coaching and training lead for product developers within the broader R&D organization.

Skills that will make you successful

• Ability to translate concepts into products and processes that satisfy consumer and market needs.
• Demonstrated ability to combine technical knowledge with management skills.
• Experience leading diverse technical teams and/or direct reports.
• Working knowledge of the food industry with a broad understanding across manufacturing & technical. 
• Cross functional/cross market experience highly preferred
• Knowledge of introducing new products utilizing stage gate process and/or agile processes
• Strong knowledge of ingredient and product design and food manufacturing processes.
• Confectionery experience preferred but not required.
• Strong communication skills and business acumen
• Domestic and International travel up to 25%.

Experiences that will support your success

• Minimum of 10 years of Consumer Packaged Goods food technology experience, including 4 years of people management.
• BS degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, Chemical Engineering or related field. MS degree preferred 

What We Offer

At Ferrara, we're proud to support our employees with comprehensive benefits that enhance health, financial wellness, and include paid time off (PTO).  Eligible employees may also receive an annual bonus based on company performance. Learn more about our benefits at https://flimp.live/Ferrara-Candy-2025-OE-QR

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $112,400 - $157,400.