Senior Manager, R&D

Senior Manager, R&D

Location:

1200 Airport Road, North Brunswick NJ

Reports to:

VP, Research & Development

Role Overview

The Senior Manager, R&D will lead multiple product development programs through the research, scale-up, and commercialization process while ensuring adherence to cGMPs, SOPs, FDA requirements, and customer expectations. This individual will provide technical and managerial leadership to the R&D team, oversee development priorities, manage complex projects, and partner closely with Production, Quality, Regulatory, Procurement, and Commercial teams. The Senior Manager, R&D will play a critical role in building and executing integrated development plans, improving department capabilities, mentoring team members, and supporting the company's strategic growth and innovation initiatives.

The duties and responsibilities described are not limited to those outlined and are not intended to be a comprehensive list of all activities, functions, or responsibilities required of the position. Additional duties and responsibilities may be assigned as required. This position requires travel for customer visits and trade shows, both within the United States and internationally, as needed to support business objectives.

Leadership & Strategy

• Lead and manage the R&D function for new product development, reformulations, and line extensions.
• Supervise, coach, and develop a team of formulation scientists, chemists, and R&D associates.
• Establish department priorities, allocate resources, and ensure project timelines are achieved.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to define product strategy, innovation pipeline, and technical direction.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives related to product development, manufacturing processes, and departmental efficiency.
• Serve as the technical lead and subject matter expert for formulation and process development activities.

Product Development & Commercialization

• Oversee development and commercialization of nutraceutical products including capsules, tablets (monolayer, bilayer, trilayer), beadlets, powders, stick packs, and other specialty dosage forms.
• Develop robust formulations and scalable manufacturing processes for dietary supplements and nutraceutical products.
• Research and evaluate new ingredients, technologies, excipients, delivery systems, and product claims.
• Lead feasibility assessments, prototype development, and technical evaluations for new business opportunities.
• Design and direct laboratory experiments, pilot studies, and process optimization activities.
• Recommend alternative ingredients and/or process improvements to enhance product quality, manufacturability, cost, and efficiency.
• Scale up pre-exhibit and exhibit batches to commercial manufacturing and lead technology transfer from R&D to Production.
• Coordinate manufacturing start-up activities and provide floor support during scale-up and initial production runs.

Regulatory, Compliance & Documentation

• Ensure all product development activities comply with applicable SOPs, FDA regulations, dietary supplement regulations, and Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs).
• Create, review, and approve SOPs, technical documents, formulas, specifications, validation protocols, and product development reports.
• Review batch records, process characterization studies, validation reports, deviations, CAPAs, and investigation reports.
• Prepare and review technical briefs, ingredient specifications, risk assessments, and customer-facing development summaries.
• Support internal and external audits, customer visits, and regulatory inspections.
• Maintain accurate and complete project documentation in accordance with company standards.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with Production, Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Regulatory Affairs, Procurement, Supply Chain, Sales, and Marketing teams.
• Present technical findings, risks, recommendations, and project status updates to cross-functional teams and leadership.
• Identify and proactively communicate development risks, technical issues, and timeline impacts.
• Work with vendors and suppliers to identify and qualify new raw materials and technologies.
• Support business development and customer meetings by providing technical expertise and formulation recommendations.

Additional Responsibilities

• Monitor industry trends, emerging ingredients, formulation technologies, and competitive products.
• Develop and manage project timelines, budgets, and department metrics.
• Assist with annual planning, capital requests, and staffing needs for the R&D department.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Other Responsibilities Including Safety

• Comply with all job-related safety and other training requirements.

Requirements

Education &

Qualification:

Master's degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Food Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related scientific discipline required. OR a combination of education and experience equivalent to the above requirements. 8–12+ years of…