Project Leader RD

Leads identification, recommendation and qualification of process/formulation development capabilities needed to meet project success criteria and deliver industry-leading innovation. Connects and integrates internal and external process/formulation capabilities to develop solutions, build product platforms,optimize existing processes/formulations and/or create new capabilities.

Essential Position Responsibilities-This is a Salary Exempt position.

Product/Process Champion. Fits new customers into our existing array of products or develops lineextensions or process/product improvements for existing customers. Meets with customers, independent of supervisor, and with sales account manager to define scope of new projects. Assists in the evaluation of target brand evaluation and monitoring efforts. Demonstrates leadership qualities with respect to process/product design capabilities with strong communication skills.

Utilizes pilot scale equipment forhigh risk projects in order to minimize company liability. Works closely with customer or supplier technical representatives and may involve test coordination based on equipment availability. Maintainscompetence as a scientist by attending technical meetings to identify new opportunities with respect to processes/products.

Product/Process Development. Competent in the full length of the product development cycle and larger scale projects, including conceptual development, formulation, implementation, process validation and continuous management and improvement. Works closely with the technical staff of customers or suppliers, often mentoring junior and senior scientists. Develops, bench tests, scales-up, and commercializes new processes/products in accordance with guidelines established in the project brief;

factors include process/product attributes as well as development costs, finished product costs, andtiming. Demonstrates process/product and project ownership to ensure that all parameters are optimized. Schedules and supports plant tests throughout the commissioning phase, with the ability to develop contingency plans as needed. Reviews process characteristics and/or product formulations across products and plants and identify opportunities to simplify the system and/or capitalize on cost savingsopportunities.

Makes suggestions to the supervisor and, if applicable, senior operations management regarding potential improvements. Reviews patents to ensure no infringement occurs.

Equipment Validation (relevant if/when area of focus is process-related). Participates in the calibration of new equipment with respect to metering for processing rate optimization purposes. Screensalternate suppliers of manufacturing and product evaluation equipment, summarizes strengths and weaknesses of each option and makes recommendations, accordingly. Qualifies new equipment by conducting Equipment Verification studies which include Installation Qualification (IQ), Operational Qualification (OQ) and long-term Performance Qualification (PQ) Protocols.

Participates in onlineequipment validation, allowing early detection of process errors and product quality issues. Conducts pilot plant tests internally or at supplier facilities in order to verify new process/formulation capabilities.

Nutritional, Regulatory and Finished Product Compliance (relevant if/when area of focus is product-related). Utilizes existing product formulation approach to assure finished product nutritionaladequacy (label and nutrition claim), applying statistical data from key raw materials. Develops a labeldeck from a master formula which considers all potential processing locations. Submits products foranalytical or animal testing as required by supervisor and summarizes results. Participates as a memberof project teams that evaluate product non-conformance incidence with processes/products under their responsibility.

Collects and analyzes information as required to analyze raw material/process interactions.

Process, Operations and Supply Chain Support. Leads supply chain initiatives including formula transfer among plants, evaluation of new suppliers of raw materials, increased or decreased use ofexisting raw materials and Project Manager, R&D evaluation of processing parameters. Assists inprocess/product evaluation testing as required by supervisor. Develops knowledge of critical process points in conjunction with the process engineering group. Summarizes results of previous tests andsequential processing conditions or runs for a particular formula to assist in troubleshooting and data interpretation.

Project and Portfolio Management. Manages the project portfolio in accordance with the supervisor's overall directive. Issues project updates and alerts supervisor of circumstances which may impact ability to deliver desired results. Issues project final reports, as requested.

Participates as a member of the Team. Participates in ongoing development, communication and implementation of team concepts, programs and policies;…