R & D Operations bei undefined

Title:     R&D Operations 

Summary: Responsible and accountable for carrying out research and development efforts at Golding as it relates to process optimization, product development support, product costing, product commercialization and general support / advisory assistance to processing operations, quality assurance, product development and the commercial organization.   

Primary Tasks/Responsibilities: 

1. Product Optimization Management
   1. R&D Ops will systematically review existing products for optimization of flavor, shelf life and cost 
      1. Review to be based on revenue and time since last review
      2. Optimization recommendations to be presented to EMT for approval
      3. R&D Ops to supports Operations on commercialization optimization / changes
   2. R&D Ops to develop / manage / update ingredient substitution lists and consult with QA on substitution opportunities to minimize ingredient waste
   3. R&D Ops to review current ingredient usage and evaluate consolidation opportunities to reduce ingredient count / complexity / cost efficiency
   4. R&D Ops to monitor ingredient performance and identify substitution opportunities to improve product performance and cost 

2. Product Development - Line Extensions / Modification Support 
   1. Initial development to be led by Product Development team; provide support as requested
      9. Formula / ingredient development and identification
   2. Optimization review to be led by R&D Ops
      1. Review of formula, ingredients, weights, and costs to ensure optimal cost and performance 

3. Product Development – New Products Support
   1. Ideation / product concepts to be led by Commercial and Product Development team
   2. Product Development group to take the lead upon approval of Stargate; provide support as requested
      1. Flavor profile
      2. Ingredients and formulation
      3. Bottle size / fill weights
      4. Cost target achievement
   3. R&D Ops to review / consult on final formula for shelf life, flavor, appearance, cost, and overall product optimization
   4. R&D Ops to lead commercialization of new products from bench top to production 

4. Product Costing Leadership and Support
   1. Be an active participant on the product costing call
   2. Product Development team to work with Commercial Coordinators to create / input product formulas into BOM’s for product costing
   3. R&D Ops to review formulas / BOM’s / costing for accuracy and optimization 

5. Operations / Commercialization Support 
   1. Review final fill levels based on densities; ensure proper measurement are utilized / measured / monitored
   2. Work with Product Development and Operations on commercialization of approved bench top formulas (new, modified and optimized products) 
   3. Assist in implementation of efficient production processes to meet cost / quality / taste requirements 

6. Operations / Processing Leadership and Support 
   1. Work with Operations / kitchen to optimize blending, filling, processing performance
   2. Work with Operations to trouble shoot production issues / implement corrective actions
   3. Identify and execute product performance testing to identify opportunities for improved processing performance (speed, fill, paneling, etc.)
   4. Identify, develop, and recommend new processes / equipment / technology that can enhance operations performance 

7. QA Support
   1. Work with QA to troubleshoot failed batches, train QC techs to collect information and make recommendations
   2. Evaluate RFT data and recommend fixes processing/formulation/specifications 

8. Commercial team Support
   1. Support customer communication / interaction related to product performance / technical / regulatory issues 

Organization

• The R&D Operations will report to the VP of R&D Operations
• The of R&D Operations will be supported by members of the Product Development, Quality and Engineering teams. 
• The  of R&D Operations will be a member of internal cross functions teams addressing issues in different areas of the operation from development, quality and processing. 

Qualifications:

• Education:
• Bachelor’s degree in food science or a related field required
• Master’s degree preferred
• Experience:
• Minimum 5 years of progressive R&D, Quality or Production leadership experience in the food/beverage, consumer products, or manufacturing industry
• Demonstrated success in product and process optimization, from concept through commercialization 

Skills & Competencies:

• Strategic Communication:
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills
• Proven ability to build consensus and influence cross-functional teams
• Innovative Problem Solving:
• Strong creative thinking with a history of challenging conventional practices
• Ability to generate innovative, cost-effective solutions to complex problems
• Analytical Acumen:
• Proficiency in interpreting complex datasets to inform strategic business decisions
• Skilled in using data to identify opportunities and drive continuous improvement
• Business & Operational Knowledge:
• Deep understanding of capital and operational budgeting, P&L, regulatory compliance, and food processing systems
• Interpersonal Skills:
• Ability to work effectively across all levels of the organization and within diverse cultural settings
• Project Management:
• Strong organizational and leadership skills to manage multiple projects and ensure timely delivery
• Travel:
• Willingness to travel as required, up to 50%