Director, R & D Process Engineering

The R&D Process Engineering Director will lead process design and commercialization efforts across new and existing snack bar and confection product platforms.  This role plays a critical link between Product Development, Operations, Quality, and Engineering to ensure seamless transition from bench to full-scale manufacturing.  Additionally, the role will assist in optimization of current manufacturing processes.  The role will focus on developing and optimizing manufacturing processes that enable the commercialization of new food products, improving quality, reducing costs, and enhancing production efficiency.

The ideal Director level candidate will have a strong background in process engineering, food science, and project management.  The Director of Process Engineering will collaborate with cross-functional teams including R&D, Sales & Marketing, Engineering and Operations, to improve market readiness and product / equipment interface. This position will erport to the Vice President of Research & Development and require working in both office and production environments.  Travel to customer sites and manufacturing facilities will be required.

Essential Functions & Key Responsibilities:

• Commercialization & R&D Handoff:
  • Serve as the technical lead for transitioning products from R&D to full-scale production, ensuring product and process consistency
  • Collaborate cross-functionally with R&D, Quality, and Operations to develop robust process specifications, validation protocols, and process documentation
  • Participate in line trials, first productions, and root-cause troubleshooting during initial scale-up
  • Develop and maintain process flow diagrams, batching process and product processing standards
• Process Optimization:
  • Analyze and improve manufacturing processes for existing products to enhance yield, throughput, and cost efficiency without compromising product quality
  • Collaborate with operations and maintenance teams to improve equipment utilization and uptime
  • Lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance manufacturing processes until transitioned to operations.  May partner with operations on existing products as requested for continuing support.
• Innovation & New Equipment Scoping
  • Partner with R&D and engineering to evaluate the feasibility of new product concepts and their process requirements
  • Participate in the design and specification of new equipment or modifications to support new product formats or technologies
  • Evaluate and test equipment to de-risk new processes prior to full-scale implementation when possible
  • Collaborate with vendors and engineering teams for equipment sourcing, installation, and commissioning

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Process Engineering, Food Science, or a related field or equivalent experience required.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in process engineering within the food manufacturing industry.

Technical Skills

• Hands-on experience with process scale-up, production trials, and commercial handoffs
• Familiarity with food safety and regulatory standards (HACCP, GMP, FSMA)
• Strong technical troubleshooting and problem-solving skills      
• Proficiency with data analysis and continuous improvement methodologies

Project Management Skills

• Planning and Scheduling: Developing detailed project plans and schedules to ensure timely completion 
• Resource Allocation: Efficiently managing resources, including materials, equipment, and personnel 

Interpersonal Skills

• Communication: Clearly conveying technical information to team members and stakeholders 
• Teamwork: Collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams to achieve project goals 
• Problem-Solving: Identifying issues and developing innovative solutions to overcome challenges 
• Analytical: Highly skilled at analyzing problems, identifying alternative solutions, projecting consequences of proposed actions, and implementing recommendations in support of goals.