Product Development Manager
Job in
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Listing for:
De Lacy Executive Recruitment North America
Full Time
position
Listed on 2026-07-06
Job specializations:
-
Manufacturing / Production
Food Production, Product Engineer, Regulatory Compliance Specialist
Job Description & How to Apply Below
Product Development Manager
Location: Hamilton, Ontario (Onsite)
Industry: Commercial Baking / Food Manufacturing
Our client, a growing commercial bakery in Hamilton, Ontario, is seeking a passionate, innovative, and hands-on Product Development Manager to join their team. This is a unique opportunity for an entrepreneurial R&D professional who enjoys working autonomously, thrives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment, and is excited to play a foundational role in shaping the future of innovation within the organization.
This position will initially operate as a stand-alone R&D function with full ownership of product development, innovation, commercialization, and continuous improvement initiatives. Over time, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to build and lead an R&D team as the company continues to grow.
Reporting to senior leadership, the R&D Scientist will lead the development of new bakery products, improve existing formulations and processes, and collaborate cross-functionally with Operations, Quality, Sales, Procurement, and customers to drive innovation and commercial success.
Key Responsibilities
Product Development & Innovation
Lead end-to-end product development activities from concept through commercialization for bakery and baked goods productsDevelop new formulations from scratch, including cakes, pastries, sweet goods, and other bakery productsImprove existing products through reformulation, cost optimization, shelf-life enhancement, ingredient substitutions, and process improvementsConduct bench trials, plant trials, and scale-up activities while ensuring consistency, quality, and manufacturabilityTranslate customer requests and market trends into commercially viable product solutionsStay current on bakery trends, ingredients, consumer preferences, clean label initiatives, and emerging technologiesCommercialization & Technical Support
Prepare and maintain product specifications, ingredient statements, nutritional information, and technical documentation for Canadian and U.S. marketsSupport commercialization activities including first production runs, troubleshooting, and process validationWork closely with Operations and Quality teams to ensure successful product launches and ongoing production performanceAssist with customer presentations, product demonstrations, sampling, trade shows, and innovation meetings as requiredProcess Improvement & Manufacturing Support
Identify opportunities to improve production efficiency, product consistency, yields, and qualityCollaborate with manufacturing teams to optimize formulations and baking processesSupport continuous improvement initiatives related to productivity, waste reduction, and margin enhancementTroubleshoot formulation and processing challenges in a manufacturing environmentSupplier & Cross-Functional Collaboration
Build relationships with ingredient suppliers and vendors to source innovative ingredients and solutionsCollaborate with Procurement on ingredient alternatives, supply continuity, and cost savings opportunitiesPartner with Sales and Leadership teams to support business growth and strategic initiativesLeadership & Growth Opportunity
Operate independently as the company’s primary R&D resource with strong ownership and accountabilityContribute to the long-term innovation strategy and roadmap for the businessSupport the future development, mentoring, and leadership of an R&D team as the department expandsQualifications
Degree or diploma in Food Science, Food Engineering, Chemistry, or related scientific disciplineMinimum 5+ years of R&D/product development experience within commercial baking or food manufacturingStrong understanding of bakery ingredient functionality, current ingredient vendors in the bakery space, shelf life, food safety, and manufacturing processesExperience scaling products from benchtop to commercial productionKnowledge of CFIA, FDA, labeling regulations, nutritional requirements, and food safety standardsExperience preparing product specifications, nutritional panels, and technical documentationFamiliarity with ERP systems and nutrition software such as Genesis, Nutracoster, or similar…
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