R&D Director - Baked Goods

Director of R&D - Baked Goods

We are seeking a hands-on Director of R&D to lead the creation of exciting new baked goods and enhance existing favorites. In this role, you will drive product development from concept to production while ensuring quality, flavor, and cost-efficiency. You'll work closely with cross-functional teams to refine recipes, optimize processes, and bring innovative ideas to life in a commercial bakery setting.

Please note, that we are hiring this role for 2 locations with relocation assistance offered to support relocations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the development and formulation of new baked goods, ensuring products meet internal standards for taste, texture, and overall quality.

• Plan and execute small-scale and pilot plant trials to test product feasibility and scalability.

• Collaborate with production teams to troubleshoot challenges and ensure smooth scale-up to full production.

• Maintain detailed documentation for all products, including recipes, ingredient specifications, production instructions, and related records.

• Research ingredients and suppliers to identify high-quality materials that align with product goals.

• Conduct ingredient testing and quality evaluations to support product consistency.

• Partner with Quality Assurance, Purchasing, and Sales teams to align product initiatives and timelines.

• Provide regular updates to leadership and stakeholders on project progress, risks, and outcomes.

• Manage multiple product development projects simultaneously, ensuring deadlines and milestones are met.

• Apply project management tools and strategies to coordinate cross-functional activities.

• Perform other duties as required to support the bakery's innovation and production goals.

Qualifications:

• 7+ years of experience in commercial bakery product development.

• Strong understanding of baked goods formulation, processing, and production techniques.

• Degree in Food Science, Culinary Science, or related field preferred.

• Proven track record of taking bakery products from concept to market-ready solutions.

• Excellent communication skills and ability to lead teams.

• Detail-oriented with strong problem-solving and project management abilities.