TITLE: Director R&D Consumables
TYPE: Direct Hire
LOCATION: Asbury Park, NJ
ONSITE/REMOTE/HYBRID: Onsite
START DATE: July/August 2024
SHIFT: Day Shift
We are looking for a Director of R&D Consumables. The Director of R&D for Consumables is pivotal in leading the charge for innovation within our pet product portfolio. This role is centered around spearheading product development initiatives, optimizing existing processes, and introducing cutting-edge technologies to achieve strategic business goals while fulfilling or surpassing consumer expectations. Managing a talented team of scientists, engineers, and technicians, along with close collaboration with essential stakeholders, is key to identifying research priorities, managing project timelines, and efficiently allocating resources.
Main Responsibilities

• Promote and integrate new and existing business processes to amplify their impact, advocating for continuous improvement.
• Spearhead innovation within the consumables segment, enhancing product offerings to meet evolving market demands.
• Uphold and exceed standards in product quality, formulation, and specifications to satisfy operational, regulatory, and consumer needs, with a keen eye on production economics.
• Direct the entire pet food product development lifecycle, from conceptualization to deployment.
• Champion innovative product development, transforming insights from experimental research and consumer behavior into successful market introductions.
• Foster interdepartmental collaboration to set benchmarks for product innovation success.
• Guarantee that products are produced and controlled in a manner consistent with quality standards within a GMP framework.
• Explore new avenues for innovation, focusing on claims, nutritional value, profitability, and sustainability, by staying abreast of industry trends, competitor products, and technological advances.
• Maintain strict compliance with all regulatory standards set forth by USDA, FDA, AAFCO, and FISMA for food manufacturing.
• Engage in organizational initiatives to further corporate objectives.
• Ensure adherence to environmental and safety regulations as mandated by the EPA and MPCA.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Food Science, Food Chemistry, Cereal Technology, Food/Chemical Engineering, or a similar field. Master's or Ph.D. in a relevant scientific discipline highly desirable.
• A minimum of 5-10 years in product development within a dynamic Client setting.
• Prior experience in pet food development and knowledge in animal nutrition highly preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite.
• Comprehensive understanding of regulatory and food safety principles.
• Demonstrated capability to lead a product development team towards achieving innovation and excellence, coupled with an entrepreneurial drive and results-focused mindset.
• Exceptional communication abilities, both verbally and in writing.
• Creativity, advanced technical skills, business acumen, and sound judgment.

EOE STATEMENT We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate or allow discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, genetic information, registered domestic partner status, marital status, disability, status as a crime victim, protected veteran status, political affiliation, union membership, or any other characteristic protected by law.