Sr. Manager R&D (Grain & Dough)

The Marzetti Company•Orange Township, OH

About The Position

The Senior Manager, RDQ is a critical leadership role that blends advanced technical expertise with people leadership and business acumen. This role leads a focused technical team and partners closely with Innovation and cross‑functional stakeholders to deliver product and process development across Bakery, Grain & Dough, and Processing, while contributing to the execution of a 3+ year technology roadmap. The Senior Manager translates innovation concepts and business needs into scalable technical solutions that drive growth, quality, efficiency, and margin improvement. Serving as the primary point of contact for both internal and external stakeholders on assigned projects, the Senior Manager works closely with the Brand, Sales and Category Teams as well as the VP of R&D to align project goals and communications. The role also provides technical support through plant trials, process evaluations, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement initiatives. In addition, the Senior Manager collaborates with our procurement team and suppliers to drive advancements in formulation, processing, quality attributes, and specification development.

Requirements

BS in Food Science, Chemical Engineering, or related field (Bakery/Grain & Dough focus preferred); MS or PhD a plus.
10+ years in food/product development or process engineering within consumer goods.
8+ years of experience in Bakery, Grain & Dough and/or Processing
Proven people-management experience leading technical R&D teams, including coaching, workload and resource planning, performance management, and developing high-performance talent.
Proven success delivering innovation or process improvements from concept through commercialization.
Experience collaborating with customers, suppliers, assemblers, and co-manufacturers to develop and commercialize new products.
Strong working knowledge of food science, food chemistry, and nutrition.
Strong understanding of scientific principles and methods relevant to bakery product research and development.
Broad knowledge of food ingredients, with particular expertise in grain-based foods preferred.
Excellent problem-solving skills, with the ability to assist scientists and Operations in diagnosing issues and implementing effective solutions.
Familiarity with food manufacturing facilities, preferably with significant experience in bakery processes.
Familiarity and enthusiasm for emerging trends in food, food science, ingredient functionality, and consumer preferences.
Solid understanding of product/process and product/package interactions, including key packaging properties.
Knowledge of GMP, HACCP, shelf life, and modes of spoilage.
Working knowledge of COGS and key margin drivers.
Familiarity with labeling regulations, including nutrition panel creation.
Strong organizational, time management, and prioritization skills.
Ability to work effectively in ambiguous, fast‑changing environments.
Travel on an as-needed basis, which may vary depending on business requirements (up to 50%).
Strong creativity, problem‑solving, and communication skills (written, verbal, presentation).
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and PowerPoint; product formulation software experience a plus.

Nice To Haves

MS or PhD a plus.
product formulation software experience a plus.

Responsibilities

Lead, coach, and develop a small team of scientists and/or engineers; set clear goals, provide ongoing feedback, and support performance and career growth.
Serve as a hands‑on leader and technical mentor, elevating capability both within the immediate team and across RDQ.
Foster an inclusive, high‑performance culture and balance near‑term delivery with long‑term capability building.
Develop and implement robust professional development plans for R&D team members, creating opportunities for growth and skill advancement in alignment with our culture.
Conduct performance reviews for team members.
Act as a technical leader in Bakery, Grain & Dough and/or Processing, setting standards for formulation, experimentation, scale‑up, and commercialization, as well as influencing cross functional stakeholders on project attributes, feasibility and plans.
Define and advance a multi‑year technology pipeline aligned to business strategy.
Identify and apply new ingredients, processing, and manufacturing technologies to improve product quality, cost, and speed‑to‑market.
Ensure clear technical documentation and effective communication of results to both technical and business audiences.
Own delivery of a prioritized project portfolio (renovation, productivity, and quality initiatives).
Drive disciplined project execution, data‑based decision‑making, and risk management.
Lead structured problem‑solving and issue resolution as needed.
Lead the investigation, planning, and execution of new product and process development projects from concept through commercialization.
Provide leadership and technical expertise on multiple complex projects, contributing creative solutions to support innovation and growth.
Partner with Brand, Operations, Quality, Procurement, Finance, and Commercial teams to deliver business‑aligned technical solutions.
Apply business acumen (COGS, margin drivers, capex/opex trade‑offs) to influence decisions.
Collaborate with suppliers and external partners to accelerate development and de‑risk scale‑up
Maintain regular communication with team members—individually and collectively—to review project status, provide feedback, address challenges, and plan next steps.
Ensure compliance with labeling, specifications, and internal quality systems.
Champion food safety and quality by design from concept through commercialization.
Standardize best practices, methods, and toolkits across RDQ; implement new processes and digital tools to enable speed and reliability.
Build organizational technical depth in focus areas; provide actionable feedback across teams to elevate overall capability.
Maintain awareness of emerging technologies, ingredients, consumer trends, and regulatory shifts; convert insights into pipeline opportunities and competitive advantage.
Represent Marzetti with external partners and at industry forums as appropriate.