The R&D Manager leads product and process development collaborating with sales, operations, quality, suppliers, and directly with the customer as required. Responsibilities include developing prototype formulations, leading production readiness, and assisting with product and process improvements targeting the reduction of cost-of-poor- quality. The emphasis is on leveraging existing operational capabilities for scalability and profitability. The R&D Manager has signatory authority for product and ingedient formulations, department policies and procedures, numerous process control documents. The R&D manager works closely with the procurement team for consistent sourcing of raw materials. Additionally, a focus on food safety involves collaborating with the quality & food safety resources to foster a strong safety culture within the organization.

Responsibilities:

• Product development process from concept to market including: development, design, prototyping, feasibility assessments for the manufacturing process, and production readiness, and change management.
• Implement product development projects to support the scale of manufacturing with the operations team
• Advise Operations on manufacturing optimization and cost-of-poor-quality improvement opportunities
• Identify improvement opportunities for existing products that enhance Atlantic Candy P&L
• Drive scalability and profitability by ensuring products leverage existing operational capabilities and expertise
• Maintain product documentation including specifications, narrations, recipes and any supplemental technical information
• Partner with sales to understand voice of the customer and develop products to meet those needs
• Work with the Procurement team on sourcing and consistently ensuring high quality raw materials
• Produce and distribute correspondence memos, letters, and forms
• Handle sensitive information in a confidential manner
• Create a new product development process flow that will provide guidance to customers and the internal leadership team
• Assist with building out the process flow for project management as it relates to R&D, continuous improvement, and nonconformance investigations
• Assist operations with process development
• Maintain a functional R&D laboratory to help support customer needs and internal product development
• Create a library of specification sheets for all internal products and a process that helps control the recipe revision and ensures the correct ingredients are being used
• Close collaboration with Quality & Food Safety to ensure a food safety culture
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Chemistry, or a related field
• 3- 5 years experience with product development, ideally gummy formats, with a willingness to learn and grow in the nutraceutical products industry. Experience with hemp-derived cannabinoid products is a plus
• Advanced knowledge of gummy formulation and processing methods.
• Demonstrated abilities using traditional laboratory equipment and procedures
• Attention to detail and problem solving skills
• 3-5 years of experience with product development and commercialization
• Strong attention to detail, organization, and time management skills
• Knowledge of 21 CFR 111, 117, 110 and 205
• Effective communication skills and working collaboratively in a team environment

Requirements

This position requires sitting, standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, and crouching throughout the day. The assigned personnel must frequently lift and/or move up to 15 pounds and occasionally lift or move up to 25 pounds. While performing to assigned job, the employee is required to speak, see, and hear clearly.

Benefits

401(k)

Dental insurance

Health insurance

Paid time off

Vision insurance

Work Location: In person