R&D Manager
About The Position
Are you a product developer who thrives at the intersection of science, manufacturing, and innovation? Archer Meat Snacks, the fastest growing jerky brand in the Natural and Specialty channel, is hiring an R&D Manager to lead the technical development and commercialization of its USDA regulated meat snack portfolio. In this role you will own the end-to-end lifecycle of products across jerky, sticks, and emerging meat snack formats. This includes prototype development, sensory optimization, scale-up, first production execution, and ongoing manufacturing support. You will report to the Director of R&D and work closely with Operations, QA, Regulatory, and Supply Chain. We are looking for a hands-on technical builder who enjoys translating concept ideas into commercially viable products. If you are comfortable moving between the bench, the pilot plant, and the manufacturing floor, and have a passion for meat science, this role is for you.
Requirements
- 5 or more years of experience in meat snack product development, meat science, or USDA regulated food manufacturing
- Bachelor’s degree in Meat Science, Food Science, or related field (advanced degree preferred)
- Strong understanding of USDA regulatory compliance, HACCP, HARPC, GMPs, and meat processing requirements
- Experience developing formulas, conducting sensory studies, and managing commercialization cycles
- Ability to operate in both strategic and hands-on environments
- Strong documentation, project management, and cross-functional communication skills
- Comfortable traveling for pilots, audits, and first production runs
Nice To Haves
- Prior success working with co-packers or external manufacturing partners
Responsibilities
- Lead development of new SKUs from concept through launch
- Conduct bench-top prototyping to optimize flavor, texture, nutritional profile, shelf stability, and process feasibility
- Translate prototypes into formulas, ingredient listings, specifications, and processing parameters
- Evaluate new ingredients and processing methods relevant to meat snacks
- Drive cost, quality, and performance optimization of existing SKUs without sacrificing brand standards
- Plan and execute pilot runs, line trials, and first production within USDA manufacturing environments
- Perform technical scale-up activities to ensure products can be manufactured consistently at commercial throughput
- Serve as the technical point of contact with co-packers during scale up, troubleshooting, and first production
- Ensure documentation is accurate and complete to support repeatable commercial execution
- Support ongoing production through process troubleshooting and continuous improvement projects
- Build technical relationships with co-manufacturers and ingredient suppliers
- Travel to production facilities for line trials, audits, and first production runs
Benefits
- Competitive compensation, PTO, and 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
Number of Employees
101-250 employees
