Research & Development Manager

An R&D manager in the food industry leads research and development projects to create new products or improve existing ones. They work with cross-functional teams to ensure that new products meet customer expectations and company goals.

Responsibilities

Develop new products

Lead projects to create new products, including meat, sauces, marinades, and baked goods

Improve existing products

Use scientific principles to improve the quality, flavor, texture, or nutritional value of existing products

Manage projects

Establish project goals, priorities, and timelines, and ensure projects are on budget

Manage teams

Hire and develop R&D staff, and coordinate with other teams like marketing, operations, and finance

Test products

Establish and maintain testing procedures for raw materials, in-process products, and finished products

Analyze results

Analyze the results of tests and provide recommendations for improvement

Ensure quality

Maintain high quality and hygiene standards, and ensure products meet regulatory requirements

Anticipate trends

Poll consumers, test market viability, and anticipate trends to stay competitive