Sr. R&D Manager

At 1440 Foods, we’re on a mission to energize people to unleash their full potential with a portfolio of great-tasting, high-protein snacks and supplements. Our brands Pure Protein®, Body Fortress®, MET-Rx®, and FITCrunch® make better nutrition accessible, enjoyable, and part of an active lifestyle.

As a fast-growing sports and active nutrition company, we are shaping the future of health and wellness in CPG. If you’re looking to make a big impact in a high-growth, entrepreneurial environment, we’d love to have you on board!

Position Overview:

We are seeking a highly motivated and results-driven Sr. R&D Manager to join our team.

The ideal candidate will play a key role in leading end-to-end Product Development activities across 1440 Foods’ Snacks, Ready-to-Drink (RTD), and supplements. The successful candidate will be instrumental in the definition, prioritization, and execution of day-to-day activities enabling the effective execution of Innovation and Brand Maintenance initiatives. The incumbent will work closely with a diverse technical team to influence, plan, and deliver the R&D and Commercialization agenda.

Job Responsibilities:

• Partners with cross-functional team (i.e. Marketing, Sales, Regulatory, PMO, etc.) in the effective planning and execution of innovation activities while driving cost savings and efficiencies across all bar and powdered beverage platforms
• Successfully leads the Snacks, RTD, and Supplements R&D team through the entire product development cycle, ensuring flawless execution from benchtop to full-scale commercial production.
• Guarantees that all initiatives meet the product development brief, including technical requirements (sensory, functionality, shelf-life, and regulatory) and performance specifications such as cost and operational feasibility
• Drives a data- and scientific-driven product development process, translating analytical and sensory results into effective and actionable technical solutions
• Effectively leads the R&D team in addressing technical challenges related to ingredient/technology scouting, ingredient substitution, complex formulation, process scale-up/optimization. Drives the technical validation process to ensure that all products meet rigorous quality standards and are ready for commercialization
• Oversees the planning and execution of benchtop, pilot, and full-scale plant production (including internal and external partners)
• Establishes and executes best R&D practices including lab management, agile development, rapid prototyping, decision-making tools/procedures to flawlessly develop, scale, validate, and launch products
• Effectively manages multiple, concurrent projects by prioritizing tasks, allocating resources efficiently, and coordinating cross-functional teams to ensure timely completion. Demonstrates strong organizational skills and the ability to balance competing demands while maintaining a high standard of quality across all deliverables.
• Acts as a role model for effective teamwork, building relationships within the internal cross-functional teams and with external partners
• Leads a highly technical and capable R&D team with focus on developing/mentoring team members and building a strong inclusive team culture

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities:

• Strategic technical mindset with a keen ability to think broadly, prioritize effectively, and develop analytical frameworks to solve technical challenges.

• Operates effectively in a matrixed environment and demonstrates effective collaboration and influencing across multiple layers.

• Excellent communication skills with ability to effectively communicate these to the broader team.

• Excellent project management skills with ability to prioritize multiple activities simultaneously in a fast-paced environment. Comfortable leading through change and ambiguity.

• Proven talent development skills with strong sense of engagement while fostering diversity, inclusion and belonging within the organization.

• Self-directed with a demonstrated sense of accountability and with ability to adapt to the changing needs of a dynamic growth-oriented business.

• Effective leadership, teamwork and organizational skills.

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food/Chemical Engineering, or equivalent required. Advanced degree preferred.

• 7 years of experience in Food/Beverage Consumer Packaged Goods industry with at least 4 years of experience managing teams through the entire product development cycle; Experience in Dairy and/or Nutritional products preferred.

• Active knowledge and experience in planning and conducting a variety of sensory evaluations, effectively drawing conclusions to navigate product development and technical validation.

• Experience working with nutritional software, technical and quality systems. Experience with Excel, ESHA Genesis, project management software, and/or Trace Gains preferred.

Salary for the Sr. R&D Manager role starts at $165,000.

Why Join Us?

• Opportunity to lead a critical function in a growing mid-size CPG company.
• Collaborative and entrepreneurial work culture.
• Competitive compensation and benefits package.
• Career development and growth opportunities.

If you are a strategically minded R&D leader with a passion for driving innovation and technical excellence across Snacks, RTD, and Supplements, we invite you to apply and join our team!