Manager, International R&D/QA – Cheese Category (1143689)

Location: Detroit, MI • Hybrid (3 days onsite) • 40–50% international travel (primarily Europe/Asia) • Open for relocation

Position Overview

The Manager, International R&D/QA – Cheese Category role sits within the Corporate Quality Assurance organization and reports to the Director of Global Food Safety & Quality Assurance. This position partners closely with R&D, Quality Assurance, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing, Training, and external suppliers to develop and optimize cheese ingredients that support international business growth. The primary focus is on cheese category development, including ingredient formulation, product testing, supplier development, commercialization, quality assurance, and global supplier partnerships.

Preferred background mix: 70% R&D / Product Development, 30% QA / Supplier Partnership.

Business Need

This position is being prioritized to support continued international expansion and strengthen ownership of the cheese category across global markets. Key drivers include:

• Significant international growth across 32 countries
• Increased focus on maintaining product consistency, quality, and performance globally
• Dedicated leadership needed for the cheese ingredient category

Primary regions of focus: Europe, Asia.

Responsibilities

Product Development & R&D

• Lead development of cheese ingredients and related pizza components
• Serve as the subject matter expert in dairy science, cheese processing technology, and food applications
• Support formulation development, testing, scale-up production, and commercialization
• Conduct restaurant testing, shelf-life studies, and sensory evaluations
• Drive improvements in cheese performance, quality, and consistency

Supplier Development & Partnership

• Manage global supplier product development activities
• Partner with manufacturers and suppliers to improve products and processes
• Evaluate supplier capabilities and production requirements
• Support troubleshooting and issue resolution
• Build and maintain strong relationships with supplier quality and technical teams

Quality Assurance & Compliance

• Maintain QA programs, policies, and procedures
• Create and update product specifications and supporting documentation
• Support supplier audits, evaluations, and quality initiatives
• Identify and resolve food safety and quality concerns
• Assist with recalls, mock recalls, and product retrieval activities
• Ensure compliance with domestic and international food regulations

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Biology, Chemistry, or related discipline
• 7-10 years of food industry experience
• Minimum 2 years of food manufacturing experience
• Direct cheese product development experience
• Strong R&D/Product Development background
• Quality Assurance and supplier quality experience

Key Expertise Areas

• Cheese formulation and development
• Dairy science and cheese processing technology
• Food manufacturing and commercialization
• Supplier quality and development
• Food safety and regulatory compliance
• Sensory evaluation and shelf-life testing
• International ingredient sourcing and supplier management

Pay

$140,000.00 USD Annually - $145,000.00 USD Annually