Lead, R&D - Margin Enhancement, Product
$141,500–$176,900 year
HybridGlenview, Illinois, United States
Job Summary
Own the cross-BU ingredient and formulation value engineering pipeline and delivery in partnership with Platform R&D teams. Collaborate with R&D, Procurement, Operations, and external partners to define requirements, milestones, and success criteria for consumer-validated launches. Lead a team of managers and scientists, guiding scoping exercises, pilot plant runs, and commercialization of value engineering projects. Build integrated project plans, manage decision gates and budgets, and proactively escalate risks and trade-offs. Ensure compliance with quality, regulatory, and food safety requirements while mentoring junior scientists. Accountable for the overall Product Productivity ZBB budget and expected to travel up to 10% of the time. This role supports the North American Region and Business Units productivity targets within the global food company's mission to disrupt the industry.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Biological Engineering, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Microbiology, or related field
- 11+ years of progress experience in R&D product development within consumer goods, food and beverage, or similar industries
- 10 years with a Master's
- 9 years with a PhD
- Proven experience building and leading high-performing teams, including direct management of people managers
- Track record of developing talent
- Demonstrated experience leading product development programs, from concept through commercialization
- Experience leading product development teams
- Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, scale-up, and industrialization
- Hands-on experience with pilot plants and commercial production runs
- Proven ability to lead cross-functional technical teams and influence without authority
- Solid project leadership skills, including planning, risk management, and stakeholder communication
- Excellent communication and problem-solving skills
- Experience leading complex product launches
- Ability to travel up to 10% of the time to support on-site reviews and supplier sessions
- Work virtually up to two days per week
- Work on-site at least three days per week at the Glenview Innovation Center
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