Senior Manager, Research & Development Pet Food - Wet

Senior Manager, Research & Development Pet Food - Wet

Regular Full-Time Reston, VA, US

2 days ago Requisition

This position is located in Reston, VA
This position is not remote work
Must be legally authorized to work in the US

• Support, build and scale a differentiated wet pet food business focused on premium feline nutrition. This role will lead the development of innovative wet pet food products from concept through commercialization while serving as a cross‑functional technical expert across formulation, processing, regulatory compliance, ingredient sourcing, packaging, manufacturing, quality and commercialization.
• Possess deep knowledge of the North American pet food industry and be comfortable operating in a fast‑moving entrepreneurial environment where both OEM/private label and branded product development are priorities.
• Build a nutrition‑first wet pet food platform centered around tuna‑based formulations, ingredient integrity, manufacturing excellence, and long‑term category differentiation.

• Lead development of wet pet food products including:
  • Complete & balanced diets
  • Complementary/topper products
  • Functional nutrition products
  • Treats and specialty formulations
• Develop formulations aligned with:
  • AAFCO nutrient profiles
  • NRC recommendations
  • FDA/CVM regulations
  • Customer and retailer requirements
• Work with internal and external nutritionists, veterinarians, and formulators to optimize:
  • Palatability
  • Nutritional performance
  • Texture and appearance
  • Ingredient functionality
  • Cost targets
  • Evaluate novel proteins, seafood ingredients, functional inclusions and emerging nutrition trends

• Serve as technical lead for wet pet food manufacturing processes including:
  • Retort systems
  • Thermal processing
  • Sterilization validation
  • Emulsion systems
  • Mixing and batching
  • Filling and seaming
  • Texture and viscosity management
• Support manufacturing scale‑up and commercialization activities.
• Troubleshoot production, quality, formulation, and process‑related issues.
• Collaborate with operations teams on continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support new production line commissioning and optimization.

• Ensure products meet all applicable:
  • AAFCO requirements
  • FDA regulations
  • State registration requirements
  • Labeling compliance standards
  • Import/export standards
• Partner with QA and regulatory teams on:
  • Ingredient approvals
  • Product claims
  • Nutritional substantiation
  • Feeding protocols and studies
  • Shelf‑life validation
  • HACCP and food safety systems
• Support customer technical documentation and specification management.

• Work closely with procurement and supply chain teams on:
  • Ingredient functionality
  • Cost optimization
  • Alternative sourcing
  • Supplier qualification
  • Raw material specifications
• Evaluate seafood ingredient quality including tuna, fish oils, fish meals, and related marine ingredients.
• Understand ingredient variability and its impact on formulation and manufacturing performance.
• Cans
• Multipacks
• Partner with commercial teams to align product architecture with market positioning and retailer requirements.
• Assist with technical customer presentations and OEM business development opportunities.

• Required Bachelor’s degree in Animal Nutrition, Food Science, Pet Food Science, Meat Science, Chemical Engineering, Biological Sciences or related field.
• Master’s Degree
• PhD highly preferred for candidates leading advanced formulation, nutritional research, or innovation initiatives.

• 7+ years of experience in pet food R&D, preferably with wet pet food expertise.
• Required understanding of:
  • Wet pet food processing
  • Pet food formulation systems
  • Ingredient functionality
  • Commercial manufacturing environments
• Experience taking products from concept through commercialization.
• Familiar with AAFCO regulations
• Strong cross‑functional communication and project leadership skills.
• Experience with seafood or tuna‑based formulations.
• Experience in OEM/private label manufacturing environments.
• Familiarity with North American retail and e‑commerce pet food channels.
• Experience managing external…