R&D Manager

Who We Are

At JonnyPops, our team is empowered to make an impact at work every day from producing high-quality, innovative frozen novelties to spreading kindness one pop at a time. We look for bright and ambitious individuals who seek out challenges, thrive in fast-paced and high-growth environments, align with our core values, and get fulfilment from seeing their work transform the world around them.

Based in Elk River, MN, JonnyPops develops, manufactures, distributes, and markets frozen novelties. Retailers from coast to coast including Target, Costco, Publix, Kroger, Cub, along with thousands of regional and local grocers make JonnyPops part of their assortment.

Growing from a dorm room start-up in 2012, JonnyPops’ mission is to make "A Better Pop for a Better World!" JonnyPops leads the frozen novelties space in innovation and uses simple ingredients with no artificial dyes. Every pop stick includes a kind deed, spreading kindness every day.

Joining JonnyPops is an exciting opportunity to be part of high-growth brand and have a direct impact on the company’s success. Join our team and help us make “A Better Pop, for a Better World!”

Job Summary

We are looking for a senior R&D Manager to serve as the strategic head of our Research & Development function — a people-first leader who brings vision, plant experience, and a strong track record of turning ideas into market-ready products.

In this role, you will lead a team of scientists and R&D technicians, own the innovation pipeline end-to-end, and collaborate across Production, QA, Engineering, and Supply Chain to deliver results that meet business objectives, regulatory standards, and manufacturing requirements. You will act as the on-site product voice and maintain key vendor and supplier relationships to support projects from concept through commercialization.

This role is expected to be on the manufacturing floor 20% of the time, with 80% focused on leading the team in creation and ideation.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Serve as the strategic head of R&D, providing strong leadership and influence across plant operations and the broader business
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of R&D scientists, technologists, technicians, and support staff
• Act as the on-site product voice, maintaining a deep understanding of both innovation goals and manufacturing realities
• Manage the R&D project portfolio, ensuring timely execution and alignment with business priorities
• Own the innovation pipeline with the ability to prioritize, delegate, and step in as needed to keep projects moving
• Manage quick-turn prototype development to support agile innovation cycles and customer/internal evaluations
• Support building and maintaining a rolling pipeline of early-stage ideas through late-stage development
• Set project milestones, timelines, and resource allocations in collaboration with cross-functional partners
• Provide R&D leadership from early feasibility through commercialization of innovation and renovation as it pertains to the plant floor
• Design, develop, and build experiments and trials to be implemented into manufacturing
• Partner with manufacturing and process engineering teams to scale new products from lab to plant
• Oversee pilot plant trials, first production runs, and troubleshooting during scale-up
• Integrate new concepts and innovation center learnings into the plant to support future growth
• Manage multiple priorities and adjust based on fast-paced, evolving business needs
• Collaborate across Supply Chain, Engineering, Production, and internal/external experts to advance ideas through feasibility and implementation
• Maintain and leverage an established supplier and vendor network, including connections outside of JonnyPops, to support projects end-to-end
• Apply strong cost-out and operational thinking alongside high innovation capability
  
  

Food Safety Responsibilities

• Ensure all food safety protocols are met
• Engineer, design, and build products with food safety, sanitation, and cleanliness as a top priority
• Clearly reflect food safety and quality as part of the JonnyPops brand when planning and executing projects and while interacting with relevant internal and external stakeholders
• Follow, adhere to, and uphold GMP standards
  
  

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Food Engineering, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field
• 6 years of product development, commercialization, and team leadership experience
• HACCP / FSMA - PCQI Certification preferred
• Demonstrated senior leadership skills with the agility and adaptability to manage multiple situations with a strong learning mindset
• Plant experience with the ability to translate innovation into manufacturing execution
• Innovation center experience with a track record of integrating new concepts into plant operations
• Desire to be a possibilities thinker who can translate ideas into action
• Builds effective relationships and partnerships with internal and external partners, including an established supplier and vendor network
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Preferred experience with process development and/or commercialization in the food industry
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
• Able to perform basic mathematical calculations and analyses
• Ability to interpret lab results
• Experience leveraging AI and building agents preferred
  
  

Additional Requirements

• Naturally curious, with an appreciation for ambiguity and the ability to embrace a "test and learn" mentality in pursuit of continuous improvement
• Alignment to our mission to spread kindness — JonnyPops is a kindness-based company
• Versatility, flexibility, and a willingness to work within constantly changing priorities with enthusiasm
• This role will travel to the Elk River location when needed.
  
  

Physical Demands and Work Environment

Physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand, sit, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; talk and hear, and reach with hands or arms. The employee is frequently required to climb or balance, and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee consistently lifts and/or moves up to 100 lbs and is on their feet for the majority of the workday. Works comfortably in a variable temperature environment. This role would require split time between our Plymouth, MN R&D Center and our production facility in Elk River, MN

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $135,000 - $165,000 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Referral program
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance
  
  

Schedule:

• Day shift
• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed
  
  

Work Location: In person

JonnyPops offers a competitive benefits package which includes the following:

• Medical/Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• HSA
• FSA
• DCFSA
• Life & AD&D Insurance
• Short & Long Term Disability
• FTO/PTO
• EAP Programs
• Paid Holidays
• Employee Referral Program
• Sick & Safe Leave
• 401k
• Company Sponsored Meal Plan
• Hired candidates may be eligible to receive additional compensation in the form of bonuses and/or commissions
  
  

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