Director of Research Development

Title: Director of Research & Development (R&D).

Overview:

The Director of Research & Development (R&D) is responsible for leading all formulation development, innovation, technical strategy, and commercialization activities for a fast-growing Nutraceutical CDMO manufacturing dietary supplements across multiple dosage forms. This role drives the creation of innovative, science-backed, compliant, and commercially scalable products that align with customer objectives and evolving market trends.

The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in nutraceutical formulation, ingredient technologies, product development, and manufacturing scale-up within dietary supplement, food, pharmaceutical, or CDMO environments. This individual must be highly technical, customer-focused, and capable of leading multiple complex development projects in a fast-paced manufacturing setting.

Key Responsibilities:

Product Development & Formulation Leadership

• Lead all R&D activities related to formulation design, product innovation, and technical development across capsules, tablets, powders, gummies, softgels, stick packs, liquids, and functional foods.
• Develop science-based, manufacturable formulations that meet customer expectations for efficacy, flavor, stability, cost, and regulatory compliance.
• Drive innovation initiatives utilizing emerging ingredients, delivery technologies, bioavailability enhancements, and market trends.
• Oversee bench-top development, pilot trials, scale-up activities, and commercial production launches.
• Evaluate ingredient interactions, formulation compatibility, sensory profiles, dissolution characteristics, and shelf-life stability.
• Maintain deep knowledge of nutraceutical ingredient functionality, dosage limitations, processing requirements, and formulation challenges.
• Lead reformulation initiatives related to cost optimization, supply continuity, regulatory updates, or product performance improvements.

Commercialization & Technical Execution:

• Partner closely with Manufacturing and Operations teams to ensure formulations are scalable, efficient, and production-ready.
• Develop and review master manufacturing formulas, batch instructions, specifications, and technical documentation.
• Troubleshoot formulation, processing, and production challenges involving blending, granulation, compression, encapsulation, gummy systems, flavor systems, and filling operations.
• Support continuous improvement efforts focused on manufacturing efficiency, product consistency, yield optimization, and waste reduction.
• Participate in equipment evaluations and process capability assessments related to new product development.

Innovation Strategy & Customer Development:

• Serve as the primary technical lead for customer innovation and product development initiatives.
• Collaborate with Sales and Business Development teams to support customer presentations, technical discussions, and innovation opportunities.
• Translate customer concepts into commercially viable formulations while balancing efficacy, manufacturability, compliance, timelines, and cost targets.
• Stay current on market trends, competitive products, ingredient innovations, consumer preferences, and emerging health categories.
• Build strategic relationships with ingredient suppliers, flavor houses, packaging vendors, and external laboratories to drive innovation and sourcing opportunities.

Regulatory, Scientific & Quality Collaboration:

• Ensure all formulations comply with FDA dietary supplement regulations, DSHEA requirements, cGMP standards, and applicable international regulatory requirements.
• Partner with Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs teams to support specification development, label compliance, claim substantiation, and stability protocols.
• Review technical documentation including Certificates of Analysis, ingredient specifications, validation protocols, and product claims.
• Support customer audits, technical reviews, and regulatory inquiries as needed.
• Maintain awareness of evolving regulatory guidance and industry standards impacting formulation and ingredient usage.

Leadership & Team Management:

• Lead, mentor, and develop R&D scientists, formulators, food scientists, and technical personnel.
• Establish project priorities, development timelines, and resource allocation to support customer commitments and business objectives.
• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, accountability, and technical excellence.
• Drive cross-functional communication between R&D, Quality, Operations, Supply Chain, Procurement, and Commercial teams.
• Implement best practices and standardized development processes to improve project execution and speed to market.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or related scientific discipline required; Master’s degree preferred.
• 10 years of progressive R&D and formulation experience within nutraceutical, dietary supplement, food, pharmaceutical, or CDMO manufacturing environments.
• Strong hands-on formulation experience across multiple dosage forms including powders, capsules, tablets, gummies, softgels, and liquids.
• Proven success leading product development, commercialization, and manufacturing scale-up activities.
• Deep understanding of nutraceutical ingredients, flavor systems, sweeteners, excipients, and processing technologies.
• Strong working knowledge of FDA dietary supplement regulations, cGMPs, DSHEA, and labeling requirements.
• Experience working directly with customers in a contract manufacturing or private-label environment strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing technical or R&D teams.
• Excellent project management, communication, troubleshooting, and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced entrepreneurial environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with sports nutrition, functional wellness, botanical supplements, or functional beverage categories.
• Familiarity with formulation software, stability testing programs, and analytical testing methodologies.
• Experience supporting innovation pipelines and new product launch strategies.
• Knowledge of international supplement regulations and export markets.