Director, R&D Innovation

About the role

The Director, R&D Innovation at Utz Brands is responsible for leading the product development innovation agenda for Utz Brands products. This role partners with the brand business team’s innovation lead, manages a team of product developers, and leads select product development projects from concept through commercialization.

Responsibilities

• Manages direct reports to execute against project objectives in a timely and professional manner.
• Partners with the Brand innovation lead to generate ideas and advance approved projects.
• Works closely with cross-functional departments such as Procurement and Manufacturing.
• Establishes a scientifically robust yet nimble approach to product development.
• Effectively prioritizes and allocates resources, both human and financial, against initiatives.
• Develops and implements best practices to enable effective innovation development.
• Owns and leads select projects and initiatives.
• Collaborates with other R&D groups such as Value Creation, Regulatory, and Packaging to accomplish objectives and manage the R&D site.
• Establishes working relationships with ingredient suppliers, processing equipment suppliers, universities, and other technology providers to leverage resources, generate ideas, and advance initiatives.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, or a related field required.
• 10-15 years of product development experience in the food and beverage industry, preferably salty snacks.
• Proven track record of developing innovative products from concept through lab/pilot scale to manufacturing.
• Knowledge of seasonings, extrusion, frying, and/or baking applications preferred.

Skills

• Demonstrated leadership and team-building competencies.
• Ability to think critically and exercise complex problem-solving skills while simplifying information to drive decisions.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills.
• Self-directed and forward-thinking, with the ability to make complex decisions that drive business innovation and performance.
• Comfortable presenting recommendations and findings to management and cross-functional teams.
• Excellent time and project management skills, with a proven ability to manage and prioritize multiple, concurrent projects.