R&D Manager

Guided Search Partners (GSP)
Guided Search Partners is an Executive Search firm built on Trust, Transparency, Specialization, and Long-term Relationships.
We connect high-performing professionals with organizations that value people, performance, and growth—helping leaders find roles where they can make an impact and build meaningful careers.

We’re supporting a search for a Research & Development Manager with a food manufacturing organization. This role is responsible for leading product innovation from concept to finished product, including product development, formulation, testing, regulatory compliance, food safety, and customer requirements. The Research & Development Manager will help drive product innovation, improve product quality, and stay current with market trends to support company growth.

You’ll lead R&D activity with a focus on product innovation, formulation, project execution, food safety, quality, and customer product realization.

• Supervise R&D personnel
• Manage projects from inception through realization and commercialization
• Support product innovation, development, formulation, bench‑top testing, and production trials
• Maintain food safety and quality documentation related to product development
• Manage project timelines and deadlines
• Identify and address challenges during product development
• Make decisions related to product formulations and development issues
• Conduct market trend analysis for product development
• Research new ingredients, technologies, and methods to enhance product quality
• Work with Purchasing to secure raw materials for product development
• Work with Sales and Marketing on existing and new customer product realization
• Work with FSQA to ensure formulations and products meet FDA, SQF, labeling, internal, and customer requirements
• Interface with customers for product development and product realization
• Support continuous improvement for products
• Test products, including taste and sensory analysis
• Guide product development decisions with consideration for quality, customer preferences, cost, and sustainability
• Follow company policies, procedures, values, and mission
• Perform other duties as requested by the supervisor

You are a food industry R&D leader with a passion for research, innovation, and product improvement.

You are organized, collaborative, and able to manage product development projects from early concept through commercialization. You can work independently, make sound decisions, and partner cross‑functionally with Purchasing, Sales, Marketing, and FSQA.

You would do well here if you bring strong leadership, communication, problem‑solving, and project management skills, along with the ability to analyze, document, and interpret product requirements.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Food Engineering, Food Science, Food Technology, or related field
• 5–10 years of food industry experience with R&D or FSQA experience preferred
• Experience leading R&D or similar teams in the food industry
• Demonstrated success in product innovation and product realization
• Experience driving process improvement for efficiency, product development, and product enhancement
• Food QA, food manufacturing, or consumer food experience
• GMP, HACCP, or SQF certification preferred
• Equivalent combinations of education and work experience may be considered
• Supervisory and leadership skills
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills
• Problem‑solving and project management skills
• Ability to work independently and make decisions
• Ability to work effectively in team environments
• Ability to analyze, document, and interpret product requirements
• Microsoft Office skills, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and Access

This role matters because product innovation, quality, regulatory compliance, food safety, and customer requirements are central to continued growth. The Research & Development Manager will help bring new products from concept to finished product while supporting quality, customer expectations, cost, sustainability, and continuous improvement.