R&D Manager

Jimmy's Gourmet Bakery•Clifton, NJ

13h•$90,000 - $115,000

About The Position

The R&D Manager leads and coordinates product development projects from concept through commercialization. The role focuses on project planning, prioritization, cross-functional collaboration, and ensuring projects are completed on time and meet business and customer requirements. Working closely with Sales, Marketing, Manufacturing, Purchasing, Quality, and Production Planning, the R&D Manager helps organize and execute customer samples, product launches, and first production runs. The position provides technical guidance to the R&D team, supports continuous improvement initiatives, and maintains consistent project documentation and processes.

Requirements

3–7 years of experience in food manufacturing, product development, or technical project management.
Experience managing multiple projects and coordinating cross-functional teams.
Knowledge of food formulations, ingredient functionality, and commercialization.
Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and project management tools.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Food Science or a related field preferred.
Experience with product scale-ups and first production runs.
Bakery experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

Manage the R&D project pipeline for customer samples and new product development, defining priorities, timelines, resources, and deliverables.
Coordinate first production run planning meetings with Food Scientists and cross-functional teams to prepare equipment, ingredients, labor, and documentation.
Collaborate with Quality, Production Planning, Sales, and Marketing to maintain project alignment and meet customer expectations.
Assign project responsibilities to Food Scientists and Technicians based on priorities and workload.
Participate in customer, supplier, and internal meetings as needed.
Assist with troubleshooting during scale-up and first production runs to support successful transfer from laboratory development to manufacturing.
Review product specifications and technical documentation for accuracy and completeness.
Support sensory evaluations, product testing, shelf-life studies, and post-production assessments.
Develop and maintain standardized project management processes, templates, reporting tools, and documentation systems.
Ensure product specifications, shelf-life studies, analytical testing, and supporting technical records are completed and properly maintained.
Maintain organized records of formulas, specifications, supplier documentation, laboratory results, and project files.
Coordinate customer samples, project schedules, and customer-facing technical documentation as needed.