AmeriQual Foods - R&D Manager

 Duties and Responsibilities

• Drive strategy, development, and execution for new and improved products.  Responsibilities include formulation development, ingredient functionality, formula costing, process capacity analysis, operator training, and development of SOPs and detailed product/process specifications.
• Lead development of retort pouch and tray-based products.
• Ensure all products meet applicable military specifications (e.g., performance, sensory, nutritional, and shelf-life requirements), including participation in government validation processes, audits, and documentation reviews where applicable.
• Serve on cross-functional teams (Operations, Quality, Regulatory, Procurement, Engineering, and Commercial) to ensure project alignment, successful scale-up, and adherence to production timelines.
• Manage vendor and customer relationships, including interaction with government representatives, prime contractors, and commercial customers to provide technical support, product development updates, and innovative solutions.
• Create and develop prototypes, conduct bench-top and pilot trials, and lead plant-scale production tests to ensure successful commercialization and knowledge transfer to Operations.
• Develop, maintain, and review technical documentation including formulations, batch sheets, specifications, process parameters, validation records, and military-required documentation packages.
• Lead and manage R&D staff, including Food Scientists and Technicians, by setting priorities, providing technical leadership, and ensuring alignment with departmental and organizational goals.
• Identify and implement continuous improvement initiatives related to product quality, cost optimization, processing efficiency, and packaging performance.

Qualifications / Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, Biology, or related field  
• Minimum of 3 years of product development/R&D experience in the food industry, preferably in shelf-stable, retorted, or pouch-based environments.
• Knowledge of retort processing, thermal processing principles, and/or nutrition formulation
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple, complex projects with overlapping timelines in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Experience leading, mentoring, and/or training Food Scientists and Technicians.
• Strong understanding of ingredient functionality and formulation challenges specific to retorted and shelf-stable foods
• Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including Operations, Quality, Engineering, and external stakeholders.
• Excellent communication skills, attention to detail, and ability to prepare and present technical documentation for internal and external review.
• Strong organizational, project management, and technical problem-solving skills.

Physical requirements

While performing the duties of this job, employees are regularly required to sit, walk and stand;  Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision and the ability to adjust focus; talk or hear, both in person and by telephone; use hands repetitively to operate standard office equipment; reach with hands and arms; and lift up to 25 pounds.  Position will frequent the production floor, so operating in standard seasonal warehouse and food processing plant temperature conditions will be required.  Work is completed in a facility where nuts, fruits and other allergens are present.