Sr Director of Product Development & Regulatory

Sr Director of Product Development & Regulatory

Sr Director of Product Development & Regulatory at Dawn Foods Global is a strategic leadership role responsible for driving innovation, ensuring regulatory compliance, and delivering agile, customer-focused product solutions across Dawn Foods’ North American business. This role leads the coordination and execution of product development initiatives, integrating scientific rigor, historical ingredient knowledge, and data-driven insights to create differentiated offerings that meet evolving market demands.

• Lead Agile Product Development:
  Drive the end-to-end product development process with agility, ensuring rapid iteration, cross-functional collaboration, and alignment with customer and commercial needs.
• Deliver Customer-Centric Solutions:
  Translate customer insights and market trends into differentiated product offerings that create value and strengthen Dawn’s competitive position.
• Regulatory Strategy & Compliance:
  Monitor and interpret changes in the regulatory landscape, proactively integrating compliance into product development and commercialization strategies.
• Build Innovation Pipeline:
  Develop and maintain a robust pipeline of product innovations aimed at defending core business, expanding market share, and enabling entry into new categories.
• Collaborate Cross-Functionally:
  Partner with commercial, procurement, and operations teams to support category strategy, resolve raw material shortages, and address quality and operational challenges.
• Advance Baking Science:
  Elevate Dawn’s scientific understanding of baking, ingredient functionality, and process interactions to unlock new capabilities.
• Integrate Emerging Technologies:
  Identify and apply new technologies and methods to enhance product performance, sustainability, and manufacturing efficiency.
• Lead and Develop High-Performing Teams:
  Manage and mentor a team of food scientists, process engineers, and packaging experts, fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Drive Scientific Rigor:
  Establish and promote robust scientific processes across R&D, ensuring data-driven decision-making and knowledge transfer to other functions.
• Support Business Agility:
  Provide rapid technical support for commercial initiatives, quality issues, supply chain constraints, and cost optimization opportunities.
• Strategic Portfolio Management:
  Evaluate and prioritize product development opportunities, balancing short-term deliverables with long-term strategic goals.
• Champion Dawn’s Values:
  Promote and embody the philosophies and policies of Dawn Foods, supporting the Circle of Excellence and contributing to a purpose-driven culture.

Below are the minimum qualifications to be a fit for this job.

• A Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Material Science & Engineering, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related technical discipline with 8 years of progressive experience in product development, regulatory affairs, or food innovation — or —
• A Master’s degree in the above fields with 6 years of relevant experience — or —
• A Ph.D. in a related field with 4 years of relevant experience

• A minimum of 3 years of people leadership experience, including coaching, mentoring, and performance development of technical teams.
• The proven ability to manage budgets, allocate resources effectively, and align team efforts with strategic business goals.

• Experience building and managing a product innovation pipeline that supports core business, market expansion, and new category entry.
• A high level of business acumen with the ability to translate technical capabilities into commercial value.
• The ability to leverage external networks, including suppliers, academic institutions, and industry partners, to identify and integrate emerging technologies.

• A deep understanding of ingredient functionality, processing technologies, and their impact on finished product performance.
• Demonstrated experience in processing R&D, including the interaction…