Director of Culinary - R&D

Summary of Position

Golding Farms Foods is a dynamic industry leader renowned for excellence in food manufacturing. We pride ourselves on innovation, quality, and collaboration with world-class retailers and manufacturers. This is a unique leadership opportunity offering an exciting environment and significant potential for career growth. Responsible for all aspects of the company's Research and Development functions this position will focus on coordination of R&D activities related to the manufacturing of branded and private label products. Looking for a hands-on developer and strong leader to collaborate with the R&D team, sales, marketing, operations and quality assurance to maintain and grow Golding’s N. American leadership position and reputation as a leader in innovative sauces and dressings!

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities

· Lead and oversee the Research and Development process, ensuring the development of innovative and high-quality food products aligned with Golding’s objectives and to help keep us on the cutting edge and a leader in the industry.

· Stay abreast of industry trends, market dynamics, and consumer preferences to make recommendations for product development and enhancement.

· Manage New Product Development (NPD) projects from concept to commercialization, including the stage gate process.

· Formulate and execute R&D strategies to drive product innovation, improve existing items and develop branded products for national retailers and food service providers within cost targets provided by the organization.

· Collaborate with food scientists, executive chef, and technical team, fostering a cooperative and creative work environment.

· Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including sales, marketing, production, and quality assurance, to seamlessly integrate R&D efforts into overall business goals.

· Manage ideation and innovation review sessions to inspire cross-functional team members in new product development.

· Collaborate and lead communication with sales and marketing team and external stakeholders to establish new product goals, present prototypes, production samples and product specifications.

· Work as a technical liaison between Sales and Customers.

· Ensure compliance with regulatory standards and certifications for food safety and quality. These include Good Manufacturing practices (GMP), Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), SQF Quality, GFSI and specific regulations set by health authorities in the region.

· Expertise and adherence to labeling requirements, allergen control, and sanitation practices are crucial.

· Initiate certification process for Kosher, Organic and non-GMO including the entire certification process, maintaining compliance with relevant regulations, and coordinating with certification agencies.

· Technical knowledge of manufacturing and scale up process for food production.

· Work with Procurement on vendor approval and sourcing alternate raw materials.

· Stay current with industry technology and standards via membership in professional organizations. (Institute of Food Technologists, American Association of Dressings and Sauces) Attending seminars, reading trade journals, and meeting with vendors.

· Ability to maintain and update formulas in ERP system.

· Be a resource for operation associates for opportunities regarding food safety and quality.

· Collaborate with the executive team to align R&D efforts with the overall business strategy and contribute to the company’s long-term success.

Job Requirements:

· Masters (M.Sc.) or bachelor’s degree (B.Sc.) in Food Science, Food Technology, Food Engineering, or related field. Will also consider Culinary Degree and experience.

· Minimum 15 years’ industry experience within food manufacturing or functional ingredient processing, or combination of Culinary and industry experience.

· Proven experience in a senior R&D role within the food manufacturing industry.

· Strong leadership skills with demonstrated ability to inspire and manage a diverse team.

· In-depth knowledge of food product development, ingredient functionality, and food processing technologies.

· Culinary creativity and knowledge of trends and resources in the food industry.

· Understanding of regulatory requirements and industry standards related to food manufacturing.

· Excellent project management and organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize and meet deadlines.

· Effective oral and written communication skills.

· Strategic thinker with a focus on driving innovations and achieving business objectives.

· Demonstrated ability to adapt to changing market conditions and consumer preferences.

· Problem Solving–Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner.

· Analytical - Uses intuition and experience to complement data.

· Technical Skills – Have a high level of culinary talent, with ability to pursue training and development opportunities; and strives to continuously build knowledge and skills while sharing expertise with others.

· Safety and Security - Observes safety and security procedures; Uses equipment and materials properly.

Preferred Skills:

· Microsoft Office

· HACCP certified.

Not a comprehensive list of duties. Duties may change without notice at management’s sole discretion.

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy:

Golding Farms Food provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.