Manager - R&D

Campbell's • Camden, NJ

14h • Hybrid

About The Position

The Manager - R&D leads development of new and improved Ready to Serve (RTS) Soup products that meet business propositions and consumer expectations. The role combines hands-on product development expertise in formulation, experimentation, and scale-up with leadership of a small team of product development scientists. The manager delivers innovation, renovation, cost, and quality initiatives from concept through commercialization, applying technical rigor, creative problem-solving, and project leadership.

This role is part of the Soup & Broth R&D team supporting the RTS Soup portfolio and reports to the Senior Manager, R&D, Meals & Beverages, Ready to Serve. It partners with cross-functional teams and internal and external manufacturing sites, suppliers, and co-packers throughout development and commercialization. The position has a hybrid working environment based from the Camden office and requires approximately 20–30% travel to manufacturing locations. Work includes time in thermal production environments and handling food ingredients, allergens, and chemicals with appropriate protective equipment.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• At least 6 years of experience in food product development and/or food manufacturing.
• Proficient technical R&D expertise in product design, processing technologies, scale-up, and manufacturing.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Food Science or a related field.
• Experience developing and commercializing high- and low-acid products.
• Experience leading, coaching, or directly managing scientists, technologists, contractors, and/or co-ops.
• Understanding of cost and sensory performance drivers of product design, plus knowledge of financials and business acumen, including P&Ls and ingredient costing.
• Strong influencing, collaboration, and interpersonal skills.
• Effective verbal and written communication with cross-functional teams and multiple levels of management.
• Comfort driving decisions, delegating tasks, and providing training and feedback to direct reports, contractors, and/or co-ops.
• Strong project management, organizational, and documentation skills, with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to handle ambiguity, multitask, adapt to change, and persevere on less-defined projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to balance multiple project initiatives and remain flexible to changing directions and rapid timelines.
• Creative problem-solving, critical thinking, technical product leadership, and strong project leadership.
• Ability to work independently and apply scientific rigor and discipline throughout product development and commercialization.

Responsibilities

• Independently develop and manage technical timelines and activities for multiple product development projects, coordinating and executing projects led by the team.
• Work with Marketing, CCID, and Commercialization Planning to define project milestones, R&D activities, and timing.
• Lead product development projects from concept through commercialization, using product design criteria and consumer insights and delivering projects on time and in full with technical rigor.
• Collaborate with Process R&D and Engineering to define ingredient-handling and blending-equipment requirements.
• Lead pilot-plant and manufacturing trials to assess feasibility and establish finished-product specifications that meet consumer expectations.
• Support interactions with internal and external manufacturing facilities and suppliers to enable project success.
• Apply scientific knowledge and technical skills to business issues and opportunities; define technical design requirements, evaluate research results, and incorporate consumer-test results into prototype formulations.
• Develop prototypes that meet business objectives, including cost and nutritional targets; perform and direct analyses, testing, and experiments to develop or improve products and processes.
• Identify and communicate product constraints and risks, troubleshoot issues, and recommend solutions.
• Prepare and provide technical guidance, proposals, and recommendations.
• Manage, develop, and engage direct reports, contractors, and/or co-ops by setting priorities, delegating, and providing coaching, training, and feedback.
• Ensure the team applies scientific rigor and discipline throughout development and commercialization and encourage ownership and results.
• Partner with the Senior Manager to align resources and prioritize RTS Soup needs across interfacing teams, including PDM, Ingredient, and Optiva.
• Work with Marketing and Consumer Insights to identify and develop concepts for new products and platforms.
• Monitor industry developments and pursue ingredient, product, and technology advances for new product initiatives.
• Prioritize projects for self and the team, balance simultaneous initiatives, and adapt to changing directions and rapid timelines.
• Identify critical-path items and risks, troubleshoot issues, remove barriers, and communicate or elevate issues to business teams and management.
• Provide technical product leadership and critical thinking on project direction and drive alignment with stakeholders and cross-functional teams.
• Maintain personal technical contributions on key projects while managing and motivating direct reports.
• Work with Purchasing on ingredient supply and costing and support supplier relationships.
• Work with PR&D, Engineering, and Operations to identify, define, and commission ingredient-handling or blending equipment.
• Use internal and external expertise to resolve technical challenges; work with co-packers as needed and adapt CSC formulas to their equipment and systems.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, short- and long-term disability, AD&D, and life insurance coverage.
• Matching 401(k) plan with enrollment available on the first day of employment and immediate vesting.
• Unlimited sick time, paid time off, and holiday pay.
• Free access to the fitness center for employees at WHQ.
• Access to on-site day care operated by Bright Horizons and a company store.
• Campbell’s Cares matches employee donations and/or volunteer activity up to $1,500 annually.
• Employee Resource Groups (ERGs).
• Wellness benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager