R&D Manager in McMinnville, Oregon - #68502 | VanderHouwen

Description

Job Id: 68502

R&D Manager
Our client is seeking an experienced R&D Manager to lead a team of food scientists and technical staff in developing innovative, scalable food products. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a global organization—comfortable collaborating across geographies to problem solve, share best practices, and align with cross-functional teams. The ideal candidate brings strong technical knowledge, leadership capability, and a proactive, hands-on approach to commercialization.

This role is onsite in McMinnville, Oregon.

R&D Manager Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of food scientists and R&D technicians to execute product development initiatives.
• Guide new product formulation and ensure scale-up feasibility for commercial production.
• Maintain comprehensive documentation to support ongoing manufacturing needs and regulatory compliance.
• Assist with developing and refining standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Manage and update formulation records and ingredient specifications within internal systems.
• Enforce confidentiality standards to protect proprietary product information.
• Collaborate with peers in other locations to align on best practices and innovative approaches.
• Provide on-the-ground support during product launches and production trials.
• Work with procurement and supply chain teams to evaluate ingredient sourcing options and manage cost efficiency.
• Partner with quality and operations teams to align on product attributes and resolve production issues.
• Interpret and act on customer and internal feedback to improve product performance and satisfaction.

R&D Manager Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Food Science or a related technical discipline.
• 5+ years of experience in product development or applied food R&D, with team leadership experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate within a global matrixed organization.
• Strong problem-solving and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects concurrently.
• Experience in nutritional or functional foods and bar manufacturing is a plus.
• Clear and effective communicator with cross-functional and cross-cultural collaboration skills; additional language skills such as Spanish are advantageous.
• Strong attention to detail and documentation standards.
• Comfortable working in a high-energy, fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Salary: $80k-$120k/year. (DOE)

Benefits
Benefits are available to eligible full-time employees and include coverage for medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short and long term disability, and matching 401k.

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