Director of Food Science

About JustFoodForDogs: JustFoodForDogs, the #1 vet recommended fresh food for dogs, is dedicated to helping pets live longer, healthier lives through real, whole-food nutrition. Founded in 2010, JustFoodForDogs revolutionized the fresh whole food movement for dogs when it opened the first open-to-the-public kitchen cooking food for dogs. All of our recipes are formulated by veterinarians and made with 100% human-grade ingredients. Today, consumers can find JustFoodForDogs at JustFoodForDogs retail locations, their favorite retailers and on-line at JustFoodForDogs.com. The company’s offerings include daily meals, shelf-stable products, supplements, and treats. To learn more about JustFoodForDogs, visit JustFoodForDogs.comPosition Summary:The Director, Food Science will lead the technical vision and execution of innovation, renovation, and commercialization initiatives across our fresh and frozen dog food portfolio. This role will oversee end-to-end product development—from concept through scale-up and post-launch optimization—while driving excellence in formulation science, food safety, and process innovation. The ideal candidate brings a strong R&D and product development background in frozen or fresh food manufacturing (human or pet), coupled with demonstrated success in leading complex, cross-functional projects from bench to plant. This is a remote position with preference given to qualified candidates living in the Orange County, CA or Chicago, IL metro areas; open to candidates nationwide.Key ResponsibilitiesStrategic Leadership & Project ManagementLead large-scale R&D initiatives from ideation through commercialization, managing timelines, resources, and cross-functional alignment across Operations, QA, Supply Chain, Marketing, and Veterinary Nutrition.Drive portfolio prioritization and execution of innovation, renovation, and productivity projects to meet growth, quality, and margin objectives.Develop and oversee technical project plans, risk assessments, and commercialization readiness reviews.Product Innovation & DevelopmentLead formulation development for new and existing products, focusing on fresh and frozen dog food that meets nutritional, sensory, and manufacturability standards.Collaborate with veterinary nutritionists to translate nutritional concepts into balanced, AAFCO-compliant recipes optimized for processing and shelf-life stability.Oversee prototype development, plant trials, and validation activities to ensure successful scale-up and launch.Process & Technology AdvancementDevelop and execute an R&D technology roadmap focused on new ingredients, processing technologies (including cold chain and frozen food systems), and packaging innovations.Partner with Operations and Engineering to optimize production processes for yield, efficiency, and consistency while maintaining product integrity.Lead technical investigations to identify root causes and corrective actions for formulation, processing, or stability issues.Technical Stewardship & ComplianceEnsure all products meet internal and external regulatory and quality standards, including AAFCO, FDA, and HACCP requirements.Maintain technical documentation, formulation version control, and standardized product development protocols.Stay current on emerging trends, technologies, and regulations in both human and pet food to identify opportunities for innovation and process improvement.Team Leadership & DevelopmentBuild, coach, and mentor a high-performing team of scientists and developers, fostering a culture of curiosity, scientific rigor, and collaboration.Provide leadership and technical guidance to ensure effective problem-solving, innovation, and technical excellence across the department.QualificationsBachelor’s degree in Food Science, Animal Nutrition, Chemical Engineering, or related discipline required; Master’s or Ph.D a plus.8-10 years of progressive experience in food R&D, product development, or process engineering, with significant exposure to fresh and frozen food systems (human or pet).Proven success managing complex, cross-functional innovation and commercialization projects within a manufacturing environment.Strong technical understanding of ingredient functionality, formulation principles, thermal and non-thermal processing, and food safety systems.Demonstrated experience partnering with Operations, Quality, and Supply Chain to bring concepts to market efficiently and effectively.Excellent project management, analytical, and communication skills, with the ability to influence across all levels of the organization.Passion for pets and alignment with the company’s mission to improve the lives of animals through real, fresh food.Tenets of the Pack (Company Values)Live Our Mission – We believe this is more than a job. It’s a cause.Be a Team Player – We put company goals and success first.Maintain a Positive Attitude – We bring energy, enthusiasm, and drive to everything we do.Deliver Results – We play to win.JUSTFOODFORDOGS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. JUSTFOODFORDOGS does not discriminate due to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender and/or gender identity or expression, marital or parental status, national origin, ethnicity, citizenship status, veteran or military status, age, disability, unemployment status or any other legally protected basis, and to the extent permitted by law.