Process Research Director jobs in Conway, AR

The Director, Product Development -- Coffee Process has oversight of the provision of extensive technical and research support for opportunities that require commercial validation and proof of concept. This commercial validation and proof of concept includes considerations for: qualitative research, sensory, food safety, commercial feasibility, processing validation/compliance, commercial claims, and benchmarking. This leadership role requires an extensive amount of cross-functional interaction and direct management of the Ready to Drink Product Development team.

The Director is responsible for:

• Contributing input to product strategy and product roadmap development
• Co-authoring new concepts for Product Council review
• Supporting key projects from the Incubation Phase of Innovation to the Commercialization Process to bring to commercial viability
• Oversight of profitability in the E&I category with the expectation to grow channel profitability through innovation and optimization.
• Management, training and professional development of staff
• Development and maintenance of Pilot Plant for Extracts & Ingredients and Laboratory space
• Contribute input to cross-functional teams involving Sales, Operations, Global Sourcing, Commodities, Quality Assurance and Compliance

Essential Duties:

• Direct the research and development of new product prototypes or enhancements to existing products
• Oversee determination of commercial viability of products and platforms
• Contribute to innovation planning process along with cross-functional teams
• Ensure new product/platform concepts are commercialized in adherence with regulatory requirements (Process Authority, FDA, USDA, etc.)
• Ensure training and continued education requirements are met for Product Development- Coffee Process team, as well as, continued knowledge transfer
• Support key account initiatives as needed, including but not limited to: sensory research design and direction, attending customer/prospect meetings, and leadership of primary research initiatives
• Direct Product Development -- Coffee Process budget and personnel, including direct management of 1-4 direct reports
• Build and foster strong co-development relationships with external partners, such as ingredient suppliers, co-manufacturers, research providers, customers, and industry experts
• Participate on multi-disciplinary teams to provide experienced advice and recommendations for product and processing initiatives
• Provide technical support and application expertise to Product Development team as needed
• Oversee Pilot Plant and trial run process, shelf-life studies and experimental process design
• Ensure operational efficiency and maintenance of Lab space(s) for Coffee Process

Qualifications:

• 4 year degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Food Engineering or related field
• 10-12 years of highly technical Product Development experience, including 5 years leading product development teams
• 5 years managing SQF food safety and quality systems and related requirements
• Experience with beverages, extracts, ingredients and/or flavorings
• Experience with development of coffee extracts or other low-acid product development and regulatory requirements
• Experience and knowledge of nutritional data generation and regulatory requirements from USDA and FDA as well as State and local health and food safety code
• Proven, successful record of developing and commercializing new products
• Experience with product development, production trials, and test conversion to full production
• Ability to trouble-shoot product/process issues and identify areas for improvement
• Demonstrated capability to develop and maintain accurate records related to products, such as formulas, sensory evaluation results, and applications
• Ability to effectively manage and delegate to staff
• Knowledge of development processes
• Actively demonstrates detailed knowledge of a wide range of analytical techniques, methods, food science principles and laboratory practices
• Adept at providing technical sales advice and support
• Strong sensory skills and knowledge of sensory evaluation techniques
• Excellent time management skills
• Detail-oriented and demonstrated ability to effectively manage multiple priorities simultaneously and meet critical deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with a demonstrated ability to professionally represent Product Development to internal and external stakeholders
• Ability to recommend policies and procedures to improve communication, efficiency, and effectiveness of cross-functional collaboration
• Strong initiative and ability to be self-directed in completing tasks and function with minimal supervision.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Excellent teamwork and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to be flexible and adaptive to internal processes and change, delays or unexpected events.
• Ability to travel up to 30% to domestic and/or international sites