R&D Associate

• Base Pay $30.00 - $35.00 / Hour
• Employee Type Non-Exempt

Description

$ 30 .00 - $ 35 .00

Non-Exempt – Full-Time

R&D

Richmond, California
- Fully Onsite

Our core values are based on RESPECT:
Recognition, Executive, Simplicity, Passion, Equality, Closeness, and Transparency. They shape our company culture and guide our business strategy. They bring together our employees and are integrated in our everyday work practices.

The Food Research and Development associate will play a key role in driving innovation, optimization, and technical advancement initiatives across and related product lines. This position is ideal for a hands-on, technically skilled professional who thrives on developing new products, improving processes, and mentoring others. You will lead R&D projects, translate customer needs into actionable development plans, and serve as the technical bridge betweenR&D, Production , Quality, Marketing, and Direction .

Th e responsibilities of the Research and Development associate can e volve and lead to a management position, depending on the will and skills of the employee.

The role reports to the Industrial Director but will also work closely with Marketing, Production and Quality Assurance departments to further their goals and mission.

Lead the development and implementation of new and innovative food products, ensuring alignment with company goals and customer requirements

Develop products by performing trials from benchtop, by considering both company and customers policies, as well as prod uc ts profitability

Translate customer and marketing requests into detailed product development

Oversee and analyze shelf-life testing, ensuring data accuracy and actionable conclusions

Support and s uperviseproduct trials, ingredient batching, and process validation with technical oversight

Manage and maintain documentation for all R&D activities, ensuring data integrity

Implement manufacturing processes and products quality during plant trials and provide improvement feedback

Conduct and interpretpost-test analyses to guide process optimization and efficiency

Leadsensory and shelf-life evaluationsand facilitate cross-functional interpretation of results

Ensure regulatory compliance, accurate nutrition labeling , and complete technical documentation

Supportcost optimizationandcontinuous improvement initiatives

Collaborate with Q u ality, Production Line , Sales and Marketing teams on technical support and product feasibility assessment

Lead a project by coordinating other department teams to a product by ensuring quality expectations, timeline, and budget.

Stay inform and alert o n future trends to anticipate tomorrow’s products

Flexibility to work non-standard hours (including occasional early morning shifts, e.g., as early as 4:30–6:00 a.m., approximately once every two months or as business needs require) and to travel domestically and internationally occasionally for product launches, plant trials, or technical validations.

Passion for product development and innovation, especially for bakery products .

Flexible and adaptable to shifting priorities and evolving company needs.

Confident in operating within office, benchtop, and industrial work environments .

Able to collaborate closely and eff ici ently with all levels of personnel, including executives, managers, and operators

Skilled at synthesizing and presenting complex technical information to support informed decision-making.

Ability to communicate effectively in English;
French and/or Spanish is a plus

Experience in baked goods or food product development preferred; equivalent combinations of education, training, and experience will be considered

Knowledge of product formulation

Ba ckground infood manufacturing , or bakery

Ability to use Microsoft Office Suite and data/reporting systems

Communication

Skills:

Good verbal and written skills .

The physical demands and work…