Be part of the Kayem Foods family!

We are an agile organization with a passion for our craft and meeting the needs of both our consumers and customers. As the largest meat processing company in New England, we are looking to drive significant growth through expansion and marketing investment. To make this happen we need equally passionate and curious people who are driven to make an impact!

Position Summary

We are currently recruiting an experienced R&D Manager to join our R&D team as we take the company to the next level of growth. In this position, you will report to the R&D Director and be responsible for managing multiple projects that fulfill programs and interest areas that have been identified in the strategic plan, applying both technical and management skills.

Where You’ll Work

This is a hybrid role based out of our Chelsea, MA headquarters. Our company in-office schedule is designed to maximize collaboration & relationship building balanced with flexibility with 3 days in the office and 2 days remote.

What you’ll do:

• Manage projects from initiation through scale-up working with Brand, Sales, Operations and Finance teams.
• Manage initiatives through Stage Gate and champion the process internally.
• Manage multiple assignments/technical projects concurrently and possess the ability to prioritize between a variety of business initiatives.
• Scope, identify and test feasibility of new opportunities/products.
• Create new ideas, develop prototypes and lead product initiatives
• Play a key role in the leadership of the Innovation Process
• Formulate high quality products from bench to scale up
• Keep abreast of trends, new ingredients and technologies
• Manage product improvements and cost savings
• Select and source vendors for raw ingredients based on quality, availability and pricing.
• Determine supplier capabilities and fit to meet company’s product, processing, quality and cost requirements.
• Resolve supplier related issues around cost and quality.
• Assist in the search for, visit and qualify new co-manufacturing partners.
• Advise co-manufacturing partners on cost, volume, yield or quality improvements
• Liaison with cross-functional teams during product development process.
• Develop and manage new project tracker to keep innovation projects to timeline.
• Develop projected products costs for annual corporate budgeting purposes and manage to budget.

What you will need:

For an individual who is highly organized, has excellent communication and negotiation skills, has proven track record of product development with in-market success and has project management experience.

• BS degree in a Food Science, Food Technology or a similar scientific discipline. 8-10yrs years of food manufacturing experience. Meat or Consumer Packaged
• Goods industry experience a plus.
• Excellent leadership skills with strong business acumen.
• Strong written, verbal and written communication skills, able to converse with multiple levels internally and externally.
• Strong analytical, problem solving, trouble shooting skills
• Product design and development expertise
• Ability to think creatively, generate new ideas, and drive innovation
• Planning, cross-functional project management, organizational, influencing and conflict resolution skills
• Capable of working in a very fast-paced and dynamic environment.
• Self-starter capable of working through defined projects with a “take charge” attitude.
• Team player
• Track record of managing several projects at the same time to successful completion on time.

Who we are:

Kayem Foods is a family owned and operated craft meat business that has been making New England’s favorite franks, sausages, and prepared meats in Chelsea, Mass. since its founding by Kaz Monkiewicz back in 1909. Well over 100 years later, we are the largest meat processor in New England and still pushing our craft to the next level – tweaking recipes to have the perfect flavors and extending our expertise into delicious new areas and collaborations – such as Kayem’s Night Shift Brewing Small Batch Beer Brats. One thing will never change, it’s our “Old World” food philosophy: to only make food we would share with our own friends and family. We offer the opportunity for professional growth and to make a difference in a flexible and collaborative environment.