R&D Manager

The Honest Kitchen Inc•Topeka, KS

1d•$100,000 - $115,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The R&D Manager leads the development, optimization, and commercialization of new and existing product formulations across THK's portfolio, including clusters, wet food, dehydrated blends, treats, and supplements. Working at the intersection of science and speed-to-market, this role translates marketing and innovation briefs into validated product formulations and manages the full project lifecycle from bench prototype through plant trial and launch. The R&D Manager works closely with the Director of R&D, cross-functional partners, and co-manufacturers to ensure products are formulated on-cost, on-spec, and compliant with applicable regulations. This role also provides day-to-day technical direction to the R&D Technologist and contributes to stage gate documentation and risk identification.

Requirements

Solid understanding of ingredient functionality and food or pet food processing principles.
Ability to independently execute formulation development and plant trial activity with minimal oversight.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; comfortable interpreting lab and production data to drive decisions.
Organized and detail-oriented, with strong project documentation habits.
Clear written, verbal, and presentation skills; able to communicate technical content to non-technical audiences.
Collaborative team player who works effectively across functions and with external manufacturing partners.
Must love animals and be passionate about their health.
Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Animal Science, Meat Science, Food Engineering, or a related field.
3–5 years of hands-on product development experience, including formulation work and plant trial execution, preferably in pet food or human food manufacturing.
Experience working with co-manufacturers and managing multiple projects simultaneously.
Familiarity with AAFCO, FDA, USDA-APHIS, FSMA, and/or NASC regulations as they relate to pet food products.

Responsibilities

Develop and refine product formulations for new SKUs and cost or quality optimization projects, working independently within defined project scope.
Interpret nutritional analytical data and adjust formulations accordingly to meet target label claims, palatability, and shelf-life requirements.
Maintain accurate, detailed records of formulation iterations, ingredient specifications, and any deviations from approved targets.
Apply knowledge of ingredient functionality and food processing principles (e.g., extrusion, thermal processing, baking, dehydration) to develop commercially viable formulations.
Plan and execute bench-top and plant trials, coordinating with co-manufacturers, QA, Procurement, and Operations to ensure trial readiness.
Serve as the primary R&D point of contact during plant trials; make real-time formulation and process decisions as needed.
Document scale-up steps and ensure commercialization packages are complete and accurate to support on-time, successful launches.
Conduct or commission acceptability studies and shelf-life stability testing; interpret and communicate results.
Manage multiple simultaneous projects from brief through launch, prioritizing based on business need and escalating risks to the R&D Director.
Prepare and contribute to stage gate deliverables, including technical summaries, cost assessments, and risk identification.
Communicate project status, technical complexity, and emerging risks clearly to internal and external stakeholders.
Partner with Marketing, Procurement, Quality, Regulatory, and Operations teams to align on product requirements, ingredient sourcing, and launch timelines.
Support regulatory compliance by ensuring formulations meet AAFCO, FDA, USDA-APHIS, FSMA, and NASC requirements as applicable.
Provide technical guidance and day-to-day direction to the R&D Technologist in support of project priorities.
Perform other duties as required to support the R&D team and internal stakeholders.