Project R&D Manager

Irca Group•Affton, MO

18h•Onsite

About The Position

The Project R&D Manager – Chocolate & Creams is responsible for leading the development, reformulation, and industrialization of chocolate and cream-based products from concept to commercialization. This role plays a critical part in delivering innovation, ensuring product quality, optimizing processes, and supporting business growth through technical expertise and cross-functional project leadership.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science or related field required
7+ years of progressive experience in product development, commercialization, or food manufacturing.
Demonstrated experience leading large-scale NPD projects
Strong background in customer-facing roles within B2B/Supplier environment
Ability to travel up to 20%.

Responsibilities

Lead R&D projects related to chocolate and creams, from initial concept through scale-up and commercial launch, ensuring alignment with strategic goals.
Develop and reformulate products based on customer requirements, market trends, cost optimization, and regulatory compliance.
Coordinate and execute pilot plant trials, lab experiments, and industrial validations, collaborating with production, quality, procurement, and marketing.
Support innovation roadmap development by proposing new product ideas, technologies, and ingredients.
Ensure product specifications, documentation, and technical data sheets are created and maintained accurately.
Evaluate raw materials and ingredients, working with suppliers and procurement to ensure quality, availability, and functionality.
Collaborate with Quality Assurance to ensure food safety, compliance, and shelf-life targets are met.
Work closely with Sales and Marketing to provide technical support, presentations, and samples for customer projects.
Monitor industry trends and competitive products to drive innovation and differentiation.
Manage multiple projects simultaneously, maintaining timelines, budgets, and priorities.