Director of Research and Development (R&D)

YAKIMA CHIEF HOPS INC•Yakima, WA

7d•$130,000 - $165,000

About The Position

The purpose of this position is to direct and manage the operation of the research and development program. The Director of R&D will contribute to the strategic plan for research and development and oversee the execution of strategic goals within all program elements, including but not limited to the sensory program, analytical research laboratory, advanced products, brewing experiments, long-term field studies and the hemp program. The primary focus will be on the design and oversight of experiments and detailed tracking and reporting of activities and delivery from all activities to the VP and company at large.

Requirements

Technical background in analytical science (Chemistry, Food Science, or Biology,) and/or 5 years’ experience in a research management role.
Excellent mathematical, communication and computer skills, be strongly detail oriented and be able to easily multi-task.
Must be able to independently initiate, prioritize, and perform or solve problems, achieve objectives and meet deadlines.
Must be able to effectively communicate in written and verbal form with co-workers, supervisor and management.
Must be proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook etc.).
Must be able to work independently and as a team member.
Follow written (Standard Operating Procedures -SOP’s, company memos & emails) and verbal Instructions.
Minimum of 5 years related experience with demonstrated aptitude to learn on-the-job.
Detailed understanding of subject, plant, process, analyses, operations and scope of work at YCH.
Possess a strong work ethic to positively contribute to the company’s mission, vision, values and environmental policy and quality policy.
Must have a positive attitude, support co-workers and stakeholders to obtain desired objectives, and assist others in their contributions.
Ability to adapt to changing paces and processes quickly.
Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (in required areas) for extended periods of time.
Experience developing and delivering technical training to a wide range of staff and clients.
Experience developing SOPs and protocols for sensory evaluation and aligning these with laboratory and brewing operations.
Willing and able to travel internationally.

Nice To Haves

A desire to work with customers, researchers and growers in the industry and lead the field in the analysis and production of hemp and hop products.

Responsibilities

Provide oversight to the creation and implementation of standards, processes and procedures that support the quality assurance initiatives of the company.
Ensure that company SOP’s are followed, implemented, and when necessary created, in order to assure and nurture a best-in-class company quality reputation.
Provide leadership in improving collaboration and communication between key internal stakeholders in the company.
Develop and nurture a culture of quality rooted in passion for brewing and agriculture.
Assist each department with the development of processes and standards to ensure “best in class” industry practices.
Analyze and develop “best practices” across departments with emphasis on consistency, efficiency, and quality.
Promote systems thinking, process flow mapping and SOP creation.
Collaborate with Operations and ISO system managers on integrating ISO, cGMP and HACCP into production facilities.
Lead experimental design in R&D for hops and hemp and where applicable, in process improvement initiatives throughout the company.
Establish a clear process for project inception, hypothesis formation, testing protocols, falsification cross-testing and the reporting of results.
Direct and manage the progress of research and development projects from inception to completion.
Manage the overall R&D program goals and scope in alignment with the YCH mission and strategic plan.
Ensure that YCH remains the global leader in hemp and hop analysis.
Educate growers and customers on the latest discoveries from our program and global studies.
Facilitate reporting and feedback to growers and customers on quality and product character.
Collaborate with industry partners on variety development, quality, and growing and processing techniques.
Effectively manage team and resources to run as LEAN as possible without compromising our ability to grow and cement our roles as leaders in hemp and hops.
Work as a liaison with industry leaders to keep the company on the front end of all development of quality processes and sustainability.
Attend and present at industry events in hemp, hops, and brewing.
Interface with brewing & hemp communities to share YCH quality standards and sustainability initiatives.
Work with commercial partners on product development and quality issues.
Participate in industry forums and be an active voice for improvement in all areas hemp and hops.
Oversee the publication of internal and external reports at or above the best industry standards.
Work to elevate the standards of the hop and hemp industries.
Guide the collection, curation and interpretation of data from the R&D program and initiatives to facilitate improvement in all areas (growers, quality, selection, processing, sensory, brewing, and sales).
Create and maintain a unified data storage, analysis and reporting system for all areas of R&D that is easy to interact with and allows analysis with minimal ‘touches’.
Ensure aggregation and accuracy of data, presentation of information, allocation of lots and feedback to growers and YCH from customers.
Commit to the development of new and the continuous improvement of existing systems for reporting and tracking of data and activities.
Actively participate in the design of work to pursue new products, processes and inventions based on the newest information developed through R&D at YCH and elsewhere.
Must adhere to all company policies.
Examine documents, materials, or products and monitor work processes to assess completeness, accuracy and conformance to standards and specifications.
Ensure a healthy and productive work environment for R&D teams.
Regularly meet with the leads of all divisions and perform continuous evaluations of staff satisfaction and performance.
Fulfill all staff management duties for your department (mid-year and yearly reviews, maintain C.E.R.s, IDPs)
Act as a mentor for junior staff and champion their development
Manage department resource to stay at or under budget
Act as a champion for the programs, staff and resources required to achieve strategic goals.
Shepherd people and resources to deliver the best return on investment for the company.
Play an active role in the costing and planning of future expansions in R&D, Quality and Processing.
Follow all direction from manager.
Perform other duties within the company required so long as they do not conflict with the primary goals of this position.