Manager, R&D Gummy Formulator

Manager, R&D Gummy Formulator

Ready to shape the future of nutrition? Meri Cal® invites a dynamic, forward‑thinking R&D manager to lead gummy formulation and lab teams to deliver high‑quality products on time, enabling successful large‑scale manufacturing.

$125,000 – $160,000 per year

In accordance with company policy, we do not engage external recruiting partners.

All positions are based in the United States.

For over 60 years, Meri Cal has been at the forefront of innovation in the dietary supplement industry, delivering custom manufacturing and packaging solutions with passion and precision. With state‑of‑the‑art facilities in Southern California and Ogden, UT, we transform ideas into high‑quality products—from research and development to the finished products. Our team, with over 30 years of combined experience, is dedicated to crafting exceptional gummies, probiotics, tablets, capsules, chewables, and powders using clinically backed ingredients.

The Manager, R&D will lead gummy formulation and lab technician teams to deliver high‑quality products on time, which will lead to successful large‑scale manufacturing. Leveraging and collaborating with external partners, the successful candidate will be responsible for identifying new technologies to improve existing formulations and incorporate them into novel innovation. This role will oversee RFQs, internal formulations, bench‑top and pilot deliverables for new product development.

• Lead R&D projects: manage new and existing projects, assign formulation requests, and oversee product development from benchtop to commercialization.
• Team management: supervise employees to meet deadlines, provide support, and foster a culture of innovation, learning, and constructive feedback.
• Cross‑functional collaboration: maintain internal communication and alignment with departments such as quality, procurement, sales, operations, and project management.
• Formulation & documentation: create formulations, calculate potencies, document raw materials, product specifications, and manufacturing direction, and manage costing.
• Production oversight: ensure smooth transitions from lab to pilot to full‑scale production, working closely with operations and quality teams on the floor.
• Format expertise: develop supplement format with primary focus on gummy.
• Customer engagement: participate in customer visits and trials, and work directly with clients to develop customized formulations.
• Technical leadership: provide guidance and troubleshooting support post‑launch, and evaluate technical feasibility of new products.
• Innovation & strategy: drive innovation programs, evaluate new ingredients and technologies, and align product opportunities with business priorities.
• Professional standards: demonstrate professionalism, attention to detail, and strong organizational, mathematical, and communication skills.
• Additional duties: accept other responsibilities as assigned by leadership.

• Minimum 7 years prior experience with expert knowledge of dietary supplement formulation.
• Starchless, pectin‑based gummy experience a plus.
• Knowledge of cGMP regulations is a must.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills (both written and verbal), including speaking clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations.
• Ability to handle multiple, rapidly changing and conflicting priorities.
• Results‑driven and oriented toward accomplishment of team and organizational goals.
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes and technology used to accomplish product performance results.
• Quality: demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; looks for ways to improve and promote quality; applies feedback to improve performance; monitors own work to ensure quality.
• Understanding of formulation cost and pricing analysis.
• Experience in customer relationship management.

• BS or higher degree in a science field that relates to dietary supplement formulation.
• 7+ years’ experience working in product development/manufacturing technology in the dietary supplement and nutraceutical space. 2+…