Director of Research Development

Job Description

<p><h3>Director of Research and Development</h3>
<p>Food Manufacturing</p>
<p>London, Ontario</p>
<h3>The Company:</h3>
<p>Our client is a leading North American Food Manufacturer with several facilities across Canada and the USA. A leader in their category selling into Food Service, Retail and Wholesale channels nationally, they are seeking a Director of Research & Development / Product Development to lead a team of about 5 Product Developers spanning two Canadian facilities.</p>
<h3>The Opportunity:</h3>
<p>Reporting to a VP Research & Development this is great opportunity for someone who loves to lead processes and people. This is a key leadership role responsible for driving product innovation, quality improvement, and technical excellence while ensuring all new and existing products meet performance, cost, and quality standards.</p>
<p>With an 20+ year history of high quality food products, this role requires someone who combines scientific rigour with creativity with a Continuous Improvement approach. Looking for a passionate, results-driven, and hands‑on leader who combines scientific expertise with creativity and business acumen. The successful candidate will oversee all aspects of the R&D function—guiding product innovation from concept to commercialization, managing a high-performing technical team, and collaborating cross-functionally with operations, procurement, sales, and marketing.</p>
<h3>Key Responsibilities & Job Duties:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Lead, mentor, and develop the R&D team while fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and innovation.</li>
<li>Oversee the development and commercialization of new bakery products and improvement of existing items.</li>
<li>Stay current on consumer trends, technical advancements, and ingredient innovations within the food and bakery industry.</li>
<li>Partner with Operations, Purchasing, and Marketing to execute product scale-up, ensure quality standards, and align with strategic business goals.</li>
<li>Manage vendor approvals, sourcing of alternate ingredients, and Design‑to‑Value initiatives to optimize cost and efficiency.</li>
<li>Serve as the technical liaison for customer and sales teams, providing solutions and ensuring successful project delivery.</li>
<li>Identify and implement continuous improvement opportunities in product formulation, processing, and technology.</li>
<li>Establish clear priorities, budgets, and performance metrics to support R&D and company‑wide objectives.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Qualifications & Competencies:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, Chemistry, or a related discipline.</li>
<li>10–15 years of progressive experience in food product development, with at least 5 years in a leadership or management capacity.</li>
<li>Proven track record of successful product launches from concept to commercialization.</li>
<li>Strong understanding of bakery systems, ingredients, and production processes would be an asset.</li>
<li>Excellent leadership, communication, and project management skills.</li>
<li>Financial acumen and experience managing departmental budgets.</li>
<li>Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, SharePoint).</li>
<li>Ability to travel up to 25% of the time.</li>
</ul>
<p>This is an outstanding opportunity for a dynamic R&D leader to shape the future of a growing food manufacturer and contribute to developing the next generation of bakery products enjoyed across North America.</p></p>
#J-18808-Ljbffr