R&D & Innovation Project Lead - Bakery

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R&D-Innovation-Innov Centr Full Time Atlanta, GA, US

30+ days ago Requisition

Salary Range: $ To $ Annually

Job Purpose

Independently lead and execute special projects that advance the company's R&D, manufacturing, and innovation initiatives, with a primary focus on new capital equipment, network optimization, line installations, and innovative formulation development. Serve as a versatile, hands-on contributor who can move across departments and plants to solve technical problems, scale new products and processes, and support the broader R&D and Operations organization.

Drive assigned projects from concept through implementation with a high degree of autonomy and minimal oversight.

This role requires being based in our Tucker, GA or Minneapolis, MN headquarters, with relocation assistance available.

Essential Functions

• Develop, test, and scale new and modified product formulations from concept through commercial production with an emphasis on cross-category initiatives and whitespace opportunities

• Partner with Engineering and Operations to evaluate, specify, and commission new equipment; support equipment trials, line qualification, and startup troubleshooting

• Translate bench-scale and pilot formulations into commercially viable, plant-ready processes

• Act as a flexible technical resource across the R&D function, stepping in to support other projects, plants, or teams as business needs shift

• Apply creative problem-solving to formulation, process, and equipment challenges, balancing product quality, cost, and manufacturability

• Collaborate cross-functionally with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Procurement, Marketing, and Plant teams to ensure projects are executed on time and meet specifications

• Conduct plant trials, scale-ups, and pilot runs; analyze results and adjust formulations or processes accordingly

• Prepare clear project documentation, timelines, budgets, and status updates for R&D leadership and cross-functional stakeholders

• Identify risks, bottlenecks, and opportunities for improvement within assigned projects and proactively propose solutions

• Stay current on bakery manufacturing technology, equipment, and ingredient trends, and bring forward ideas for application within the company

• Travel to plant locations as needed to support project execution, troubleshooting, and startups

• Support food safety programs, quality standards, and regulatory compliance for all products and processes

• Perform other job-related duties as assigned

Qualifications (Education, Experience, Competencies)

• Bachelor's degree in food science, food engineering, baking science, or a similar technical field

• 7+ years of experience in bakery product development, process/manufacturing engineering, or a closely related bakery manufacturing role

• Demonstrated expertise in bakery formulation development and scale-up from R&D to full commercial production

• Solid working knowledge of bakery manufacturing equipment and processes, with prior experience supporting new equipment or line installations preferred

• Prior experience contributing to or supporting capital (capex) projects, including equipment specification, installation, and startup, preferred

• Proven ability to work independently, manage ambiguity, and drive projects to completion with limited direction

• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills, with the ability to build relationships and work effectively across R&D, Operations, Engineering, and other departments

• Creative, hands-on problem solver comfortable moving between hands-on bench/pilot work and…