Director, Technical Product Development

Nestle Operational Services Worldwide SA•Solon, OH

1d•$179,376 - $230,000

About The Position

Nestlé’s Research & Development Center is our regional powerhouse driving innovation in food, beverage, and pharmaceutical science. Backed by our global Nestlé R&D organization, we lead breakthrough discoveries that are both good for consumers and the planet. Our team of experts range from product developers to engineers, working across our portfolio of food, beverage, infant nutrition, and health science to create leading-edge products and services. As part of our organization, you will use your entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to excellence to unlock the power of food and provide premium value. This position is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship. We are seeking a experienced Director of Technical Product Development to lead the innovation, development, and commercialization of pizza and dough-based snacking products across one of North America's largest and most iconic frozen food portfolios. This role combines deep technical expertise with strategic leadership. The successful candidate will lead multidisciplinary product development teams, advance robust innovation pipelines from concept through launch, and deliver consumer-loved products that fuel business growth. As a key member of the R&D leadership team, this individual will help shape the future of the pizza and snacking category through breakthrough innovation, science-based solutions, and technology advancement.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Bakery Science, Food Engineering, or related technical discipline.
12+ years of progressive food industry R&D experience (must include development experience of dough based products)
5+ years of people leadership experience.
Proven track record leading product development programs from concept through commercialization.
Experience with frozen foods, bakery, pizza, dough-based products, snacks, or adjacent categories.
Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional teams in a complex matrix environment.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree (M.S) in Food Science or related field.
Deep expertise in dough systems, fermentation, baking science, and texture optimization.
Experience with large-scale food manufacturing and commercialization.
Strong understanding of consumer-led innovation methodologies.
Experience managing broad portfolios and multiple simultaneous development programs.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute the innovation strategy for pizza and dough-based snack platforms.
Identify emerging consumer trends, technologies, ingredients, and product opportunities.
Keep an eye on competitive activity and understand potential implications for our business
Guide projects from concept creation through commercialization and post-launch optimization.
Lead and develop a team of product developers, food scientists, and chefs
Create an environment that fosters creativity, collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning.
Coach and develop future technical and people leaders.
Provide technical leadership in dough systems, pizza technologies, frozen foods, ingredient functionality, and manufacturing processes.
Advance technical understanding of dough rheology, fermentation, baking systems, texture optimization, and shelf-life performance.
Establish technical standards and best practices across the organization.
Partner closely with Marketing, Consumer Insights, Operations, Supply Chain, Quality Assurance, Procurement, Packaging, Regulatory Affairs and Strategic Business Unit.
Present recommendations and innovation strategies to senior leadership.
Build strong internal and external networks, including suppliers, research institutions, and industry experts.
Translate business objectives into prioritized R&D roadmaps.
Ensure projects meet targets for consumer preference, food safety, cost, quality, operational feasibility, and speed to market.
Manage budgets, resources, and talent allocation across the portfolio.