R&D / Innovation Manager

Quadra • Chicago, IL

7d • $125,000 - $198,600 • Onsite

About The Position

Quadra is seeking a hands-on R&D / Innovation Manager to launch and lead a new Ingredients Applications Lab in Chicago. This role is critical in providing technical support across the United States, partnering with sales and product marketing teams, supporting customer innovation, and strengthening Quadra's position as a trusted solutions provider. Initially, the manager will be the lab's primary technical resource, establishing equipment, workflows, programs, and operating practices. As the business grows, they will define future capabilities, recruit technical talent, and build a high-performing applications team to support Quadra's long-term growth strategy.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science or a related discipline; a master’s degree is considered a strong asset.
• Minimum of 10+ years of progressive R&D, applications, product development, or technical service experience in the food industry.
• Strong hands-on formulation and prototype-development experience across relevant food or nutrition application categories.
• Demonstrated experience of troubleshooting formulations and translating technical work into practical customer solutions.
• Experience establishing or improving laboratory processes, methods, documentation and operating practices is strongly preferred.
• Previous people leadership, team building, mentoring or project-leadership experience; experience recruiting and developing technical talent is an asset.
• Working knowledge of food safety, food microbiology, and good laboratory practices.
• Experience supporting commercialization or scale-up in a food production environment is an asset.
• Strong digital and documentation skills, including Microsoft 365. Experience with nutrition-formulation software such as Genesis is an asset.
• Ability to travel within the United States and occasionally across North America to support customers, suppliers and internal collaboration.

Nice To Haves

• A builder who is energized by creating a new capability, establishing a structure, and turning a new lab into a valued commercial resource.
• Combines strong food science and formulation expertise with a practical, customer-focused and commercially curious mindset.
• Comfortable being hands-on while also thinking strategically about how the lab and team should evolve.
• An effective project leader who can prioritize multiple requests, set expectations, and move work from concept to completion.
• Communicates technical information clearly to both scientific and non-technical audiences and is confident presenting to customers, suppliers and internal teams.
• Builds trust across functions and enjoys working closely with Sales, Product Marketing, Quality, Regulatory, Operations and supplier partners.
• Proactive, adaptable, resourceful, and accountable, with a continuous-improvement mindset and a bias for action.
• Motivated by coaching others and, over time, building a strong team and an inclusive, high-performance lab culture.

Responsibilities

• Launch and operationalize the Chicago Ingredients Applications Lab, including equipment readiness, laboratory workflows, safety practices, documentation, ingredient and sample management, and day-to-day operating standards.
• Develop a practical lab strategy and technical-support roadmap aligned with the growth priorities of the U.S. Ingredients business.
• Serve as the lead technical partner to the U.S. commercial team, providing formulation guidance, application troubleshooting, product comparisons, prototype development and customer-facing technical support.
• Translate customer needs and market trends into application concepts, demonstrations and prototypes that showcase Quadra’s ingredient portfolio and create commercial opportunities.
• Partner with sales and product marketing on customer calls, technical presentations, innovation sessions, product training, and targeted market campaigns.
• Build strong working relationships with strategic suppliers and identify opportunities to support supplier growth through prototypes, application data, technical storytelling, and customer engagement.
• Create and maintain a sample and prototype library, application protocols, formulation records, and reusable technical resources for the commercial team.
• Collaborate closely with Quality, Regulatory, Operations, Marketing and the broader North American R&D network to ensure solutions are practical, compliant and aligned with customer requirements.
• Establish meaningful measures for lab activity and impact, including project pipeline, responsiveness, prototype activity, customer engagement, and commercial outcomes.
• Assess future capability and talent needs; help define roles, recruit and onboard additional technical team members as business demand grows.
• Manage the lab operating budget and recommend future equipment or capability investments based on business priorities and customer needs.
• Represent Quadra at selected customer events, supplier meetings, industry conferences, and trade shows.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Personalized Learning & Development opportunities
• Generous Time-Off Program (vacation, personal days, and sick days)
• Wellness initiatives and resources
• 401(k) Match Program
• Career Growth Opportunities

What This Job Offers

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