Research and Development Manager

Job Title: R&D Manager
Position Location: Villa Rica, GA
Reports To: Director, Product Management & Development
Department: Research & Development
Job Type: Full-time, on-site

Sugar Foods is a privately owned company with production facilities in Georgia, California, and Mexico. Our products are sold and distributed throughout the U.S. and Canada. Sugar Foods manufactures and packages croutons, tortilla chips, crispy toppings, as well as cheese-based toppings. Additionally, Sugar Foods packages a variety of items including sugar, sweeteners, powdered creamer, and dried fruits and nuts.

We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated R&D Manager to lead our Research and Development team in creating innovative, high-quality food products. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of food science, process development, and manufacturing, with a proven ability to drive product development from concept to commercialization. You will work closely with cross-functional teams, including production, quality assurance, marketing, sales and regulatory, to ensure that our products meet customer expectations, industry standards, and company goals.

At Sugar Foods, the Customer is King, and our team is our Family. The vision of Sugar Foods is for our products to be on every plate and in every cup. We continue to grow our business and adapt to changing business conditions to consistently provide value to our customers, our associates, and our community, by adhering to high standards of quality and safety and always acting in a respectful and responsible manner.

• Leadership & Team Management:
  • Lead, mentor, and manage a team of developers, technologists, and technicians.
  • Foster a collaborative and innovative environment that encourages continuous learning and development.
  • Set clear team objectives, track progress, and provide performance feedback to ensure goals are met.
• Product Development:
  • Oversee the end-to-end development of new food products, from ideation through to commercialization.
  • Work with internal and external collaborators to define product specifications, timelines, and budgets.
  • Lead the development of new recipes and processes, optimizing for taste, texture, shelf life, and cost.
  • Conduct feasibility studies, pilot runs, and scale-up trials to ensure product scalability in manufacturing.
• Process Improvement & Optimization:
  • Develop and optimize food production processes to ensure efficiency, quality, and cost-effectiveness.
  • Work closely with the production team to troubleshoot and resolve any technical issues in the manufacturing process.
  • Collaborate with the quality assurance team to ensure compliance with food safety standards and regulations (e.g., FDA, HACCP, ISO).
• Innovation & Trend Analysis:
  • Stay up to date with the latest industry trends, consumer preferences, and regulatory changes to inform new product development.
  • Identify opportunities for innovation and new product lines based on market needs and consumer feedback.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration:
  • Partner with Director of Product Management & Development to ensure daily activities of R&D team align company goals and business objectives.
  • Provide technical expertise to support commercial teams during product launches, promotional activities, and customer inquiries.
  • Work with the regulatory team to ensure compliance with labeling and regulatory requirements for new products.
• Documentation & Reporting:
  • Maintain thorough documentation for all product development processes, including formulations, test results, and manufacturing protocols.
  • Prepare and present regular reports on R&D progress, challenges, and key milestone

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in food science, Food Engineering, Chemistry, or a related field. Master’s degree preferred.
• 5 years of experience in R&D, product development, or food manufacturing, with at least 2 years in a leadership role.
• Strong understanding of food chemistry, ingredients, and manufacturing processes.
• Experience in scaling up food products from lab to production.
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements (FDA, USDA, etc.) and food safety standards (HACCP, GMP).
• Proven track record of leading cross-functional teams and managing multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong problem-solving, analytical, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in project management tools and MS Office Suite.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with sensory analysis and consumer testing.
• Familiarity with sustainability practices in food manufacturing.
• Knowledge of digital tools and software for project management (e.g., Spec Right, Smartsheet, Power BI).
• Performing and completing tasks in a timely fashion
• Adhering to workplace procedures, policies, and ethics
• Creative thinking, developing product solutions on short notice
• Displaying calmness and composure regardless of workload and pressure.

Role requires 25% travel, minimum

U.S. Employment: If you have any difficulty using our on-line system, you may use the alternative method described below to contact someone about your interest in employment at Sugar Foods Corporation. Please reference this statement and job reference you are applying for when contacting us. Tel: 678-952-7051.

Sugar Foods Corporation is an E-Verify Company and provides reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in job applicant procedures. "Equal Opportunity Employer: Minority/Female/Veteran/Disabled/Gender Identity/Sexual Orientation"