R&D Manager

JonnyPops•Elk River, MN

2d•$135,000 - $165,000•Onsite

About The Position

We are looking for a senior R&D Manager to serve as the strategic head of our Research & Development function — a people-first leader who brings vision, plant experience, and a strong track record of turning ideas into market-ready products. In this role, you will lead a team of scientists and R&D technicians, own the innovation pipeline end-to-end, and collaborate across Production, QA, Engineering, and Supply Chain to deliver results that meet business objectives, regulatory standards, and manufacturing requirements. You will act as the on-site product voice and maintain key vendor and supplier relationships to support projects from concept through commercialization. This role is expected to be on the manufacturing floor 20% of the time, with 80% focused on leading the team in creation and ideation.

Requirements

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Food Engineering, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field
6+ years of product development, commercialization, and team leadership experience
Demonstrated senior leadership skills with the agility and adaptability to manage multiple situations with a strong learning mindset
Plant experience with the ability to translate innovation into manufacturing execution
Innovation center experience with a track record of integrating new concepts into plant operations
Desire to be a possibilities thinker who can translate ideas into action
Builds effective relationships and partnerships with internal and external partners, including an established supplier and vendor network
Strong communication and interpersonal skills
Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
Able to perform basic mathematical calculations and analyses
Ability to interpret lab results
Naturally curious, with an appreciation for ambiguity and the ability to embrace a "test and learn" mentality in pursuit of continuous improvement
Alignment to our mission to spread kindness — JonnyPops is a kindness-based company
Versatility, flexibility, and a willingness to work within constantly changing priorities with enthusiasm

Nice To Haves

HACCP / FSMA - PCQI Certification preferred
Preferred experience with process development and/or commercialization in the food industry
Experience leveraging AI and building agents preferred

Responsibilities

Serve as the strategic head of R&D, providing strong leadership and influence across plant operations and the broader business
Lead, mentor, and develop a team of R&D scientists, technologists, technicians, and support staff
Act as the on-site product voice, maintaining a deep understanding of both innovation goals and manufacturing realities
Manage the R&D project portfolio, ensuring timely execution and alignment with business priorities
Own the innovation pipeline with the ability to prioritize, delegate, and step in as needed to keep projects moving
Manage quick-turn prototype development to support agile innovation cycles and customer/internal evaluations
Support building and maintaining a rolling pipeline of early-stage ideas through late-stage development
Set project milestones, timelines, and resource allocations in collaboration with cross-functional partners
Provide R&D leadership from early feasibility through commercialization of innovation and renovation as it pertains to the plant floor
Design, develop, and build experiments and trials to be implemented into manufacturing
Partner with manufacturing and process engineering teams to scale new products from lab to plant
Oversee pilot plant trials, first production runs, and troubleshooting during scale-up
Integrate new concepts and innovation center learnings into the plant to support future growth
Manage multiple priorities and adjust based on fast-paced, evolving business needs
Collaborate across Supply Chain, Engineering, Production, and internal/external experts to advance ideas through feasibility and implementation
Maintain and leverage an established supplier and vendor network, including connections outside of JonnyPops, to support projects end-to-end
Apply strong cost-out and operational thinking alongside high innovation capability
Ensure all food safety protocols are met
Engineer, design, and build products with food safety, sanitation, and cleanliness as a top priority
Clearly reflect food safety and quality as part of the JonnyPops brand when planning and executing projects and while interacting with relevant internal and external stakeholders
Follow, adhere to, and uphold GMP standards