Sr. R&D Manager, Product Development & Innovation

ALAMANCE FOODS INC•Burlington, NC

1d•$0 - $110,000•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a Senior Manager – R&D & Commercialization to lead product development, scale-up, and commercialization activities across Alamance Foods’ portfolio of dairy, non-dairy, beverage, aerosol, frozen novelty, and adjacent food categories. This individual will be responsible for managing projects from concept through commercialization, partnering closely with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Procurement, Sales, and customers to successfully launch innovative products while meeting quality, timing, and financial objectives.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Food Science, Dairy Science, Chemical Engineering, Food Engineering, or related technical discipline required
8–12 years of progressive experience in food and beverage product development and commercialization
Minimum 5 years of experience commercializing products from concept through full-scale manufacturing
Experience leading plant trials, process validations, startup activities, and scale-up projects
Experience working directly with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Procurement teams
Strong understanding of food manufacturing processes and commercialization requirements

Nice To Haves

Product Development
Commercialization & Scale-Up
Project Management
Cross-Functional Leadership
Root Cause Analysis
Consumer Complaint Investigation
Customer-Facing Technical Support
Process Optimization
Continuous Improvement
Strong Communication & Presentation Skills

Responsibilities

Lead new product development and commercialization projects from concept through launch.
Develop formulations, process parameters, product specifications, and commercialization plans.
Manage pilot plant trials, plant validations, first production runs, and startup activities.
Collaborate with Operations and Engineering to ensure products are manufacturable and scalable.
Lead troubleshooting efforts related to formulation, processing, shelf life, and product performance.
Support customer innovation initiatives and technical presentations.
Conduct root cause investigations related to consumer complaints, product quality, and commercialization challenges.
Partner with Quality and Regulatory teams to ensure compliance with FDA, SQF, labeling, and food safety requirements.
Manage multiple projects simultaneously while meeting aggressive commercialization timelines.
Mentor junior R&D staff and provide technical leadership across cross-functional teams.