Senior Research Development Manager

Trillium Foods (TF) is a Certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) with a diverse portfolio of high-quality offerings across multiple categories including liquid products and cleaning chemicals. Utilizing a proven combination of strength in innovation and focused execution we provide our customers with best-in-class products and efficient supply. We are committed to delivering delicious, feel-good moments for everyone and believe our industry leadership can lead the way in this category.

Position Overview:

Trillium Foods is seeking a Senior Research Development Manager to lead high-impact, commercial-focused product development initiatives that drive strategic growth and strengthen key customer partnerships. This role operates as a senior cross-functional leader, serving as the primary bridge between R&D, Culinary, Quality, Operations, and external customers.

The ideal candidate will own end-to-end commercialization strategy and execution, from concept through full-scale production, while influencing product pipelines, customer engagement, and internal capabilities. This role plays a critical part in shaping innovation strategy across both sweet and savory liquid product categories, ensuring alignment with business objectives, customer expectations, and operational excellence.

Additionally, this role will act as a primary leader for customer commercialization, technical diligence, and innovation initiatives, while mentoring team members and elevating R&D best practices across the organization.

The position will be onsite at the facility in Lancaster, PA Monday-Friday.

Key Responsibilities:

Product Development & Innovation Leadership:

• Lead the strategic development and commercialization of new and existing products across sweet and savory categories, with ownership of high-priority and complex initiatives.
• Serve as the senior point of contact for customer commercialization programs, ensuring alignment from ideation through launch.
• Drive formula design and optimization strategies aligned with customer requirements, cost targets, and manufacturing capabilities.
• Own and lead large-scale, cross-functional product development programs, influencing timelines, scope, and business outcomes.
• Partner with Sensory, Culinary, and Quality teams to define product standards, scorecards, and success criteria, ensuring best-in-class outcomes.
• Identify and lead cost optimization and value engineering initiatives, collaborating with Procurement and Operations.
• Provide technical leadership during scale-up, validation, and commercialization trials, ensuring successful plant execution and knowledge transfer.
• Establish and standardize best practices for product development, commercialization, and documentation across the organization.

Project & Portfolio Management

• Lead the strategic development and commercialization of new and existing products across sweet and savory categories, with ownership of high-priority and complex initiatives.
• Serve as the senior point of contact for customer commercialization programs, ensuring alignment from ideation through launch.
• Drive formula design and optimization strategies aligned with customer requirements, cost targets, and manufacturing capabilities.
• Own and lead large-scale, cross-functional product development programs, influencing timelines, scope, and business outcomes.
• Partner with Sensory, Culinary, and Quality teams to define product standards, scorecards, and success criteria, ensuring best-in-class outcomes.
• Identify and lead cost optimization and value engineering initiatives, collaborating with Procurement and Operations.
• Provide technical leadership during scale-up, validation, and commercialization trials, ensuring successful plant execution and knowledge transfer.
• Establish and standardize best practices for product development, commercialization, and documentation across the organization.

Customer & Commercial Leadership:

• Act as a trusted technical advisor and partner to key customers, leading product presentations, innovation sessions, and problem-solving initiatives.
• Influence customer decisions through technical expertise, product differentiation, and commercialization insights.
• Lead customer-facing initiatives including product cuttings, panels, supplier meetings, and restaurant visits.
• Ensure all product specifications and documentation are accurate, compliant, and aligned across internal and customer systems.

Manufacturing & Operational Integration:

• Lead R&D integration into manufacturing, ensuring seamless onboarding and qualification of new products across facilities.
• Provide technical leadership and training to plant teams on commercialization standards, customer expectations, and R&D processes.
• Act as the primary escalation point for manufacturing-related R&D challenges, driving timely and effective resolution.
• Partner with Operations to enhance process efficiency, scalability, and product consistency.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Advanced understanding of food science principles, including emulsions, hydrocolloids, flavor systems, and process technology.
• Deep knowledge of food safety, regulatory requirements, and quality systems.
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to influence without authority across multiple functions.
• Proven ability to manage complex, high-visibility projects and competing priorities.
• Expertise in scaling formulations from bench to commercial production.
• Strategic thinker with strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Passion for building collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing teams.

Qualifications/Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science or related field required; advanced degree preferred.
• 7 years of progressive experience in product development, commercialization, or food manufacturing.
• Demonstrated experience leading large-scale commercialization projects and cross-functional teams.
• Strong background in customer-facing roles within food or CPG environments.
• Ability to travel up to 20%.

Physical Requirements:

• Regular standing required.
• Ability to lift:
• Up to 10 lbs. regularly
• Up to 25 lbs. frequently
• Up to 60 lbs. occasionally

Working Conditions:

• Regular exposure to food ingredients, including common allergens.
• Work environment includes wet, humid conditions and moving mechanical equipment.
• Moderate to high noise levels in manufacturing environments

Trillium Foods provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.