Research & Development Manager

Kinder's•Walnut Creek, CA

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Manager, Research & Development will be responsible for supporting the development and execution of new and improved products across retail, club, and foodservice channels. This role will drive product formulation, process development, and innovation from concept through commercialization, ensuring every product meets Kinder’s high standards for taste, quality, and scalability. This is an exciting opportunity to play a hands-on role in a growing, values-driven food brand — partnering cross-functionally to deliver consumer-loved innovation that fuels Kinder’s continued success.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Chemical Engineering, or related field (Master’s preferred).
6-10 years of experience in food product development.
Proven success in CPG innovation; meat, sauces, seasonings, or condiments experience preferred.
Strong technical knowledge of formulation, ingredient functionality, sensory evaluation, and scale-up.
Excellent project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities.
Effective communicator and collaborator across multiple functions and levels.
Passion for great food and consumer-driven innovation.
MUST BE ABLE TO TRAVEL UP TO 20%

Responsibilities

Lead Product Development: Support the end-to-end product development process — from concept ideation to launch — ensuring alignment with brand priorities, timelines, and cost objectives.
Drive Innovation & Continuous Improvement: Identify and execute opportunities for innovation, renovation, and cost optimization across Kinder’s portfolio, leveraging emerging ingredients, technologies, and process improvements.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with Operations, Marketing, Culinary, and Supply Chain to translate consumer insights into technically feasible, scalable, and commercially viable products.
Technical Execution & Scale-Up: Support formulation work, pilot plant trials, and production scale-ups to ensure successful transfer from bench to manufacturing. Troubleshoot issues and optimize for quality and consistency.
Project Management: Manage multiple projects concurrently, ensuring milestones, deliverables, and communication are clear and on track. Maintain visibility to leadership through status updates and documentation.
Regulatory & Quality Alignment: Collaborate with Quality Assurance and Regulatory teams to ensure product compliance with ingredient standards, labeling requirements, and nutritional accuracy.
Team Collaboration & Development: Contribute to a collaborative, curious, and accountable culture within the R&D team while supporting the development of junior team members and technicians.