Mgr R&D Process Technology

About the role

This position leads a team of 3 to 5 team members of the Process Technology Team within Hershey R&D, focusing on technical rigor, commercialization excellence, and global capability development. It reports to the Sr. Manager of Process Technology and collaborates with cross-functional teams including Product Development, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Quality.

Responsibilities

• Set priorities for the Process Technology portfolio and allocate resources to ensure timely, high-quality execution.
• Address project timing, staffing, and technical challenges to keep programs on track and aligned with business objectives.
• Provide concise, data-driven progress updates to senior leadership.
• Build and develop high-performing technical teams.
• Lead technical validation and scale-up execution.
• Partner with cross-functional teams on capital project scoping, technology selection, factory acceptance testing, commissioning, and startup.
• Ensure process requirements and validation criteria are incorporated early into project design, and that scale-up learnings inform long-term capability development and asset strategies.
• Support multiple platforms and critical project execution across CMG, S&R, Cocoa Science, Better for You, Salty, Strategic Growth Platforms, and Integrating Brands, including approximately 25% travel primarily within the U.S. and occasional international travel as needed.

Requirements

• Demonstrated leadership, management, and influencing skills, with the ability to set direction, coach technical teams, and balance strategic priorities with tactical execution.
• Strong expertise in food processing, process engineering, scale-up validation, commercialization, and manufacturing integration for confectionery and snacking applications.
• Proven ability to develop and execute technical strategies that support product innovation, process validation, equipment selection, global scale-up, and seamless manufacturing implementation.
• Advanced problem-solving and data-driven decision-making skills, with the ability to apply analytics, digital tools, process insights, and technical judgment to improve outcomes.
• Effective change agent with the ability to challenge conventional thinking, lead through ambiguity, drive continuous improvement, and strengthen organizational capability.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to influence Product Development, Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory, Marketing, Operations, and Senior Leadership, including executive-level presentations.
• Willingness and ability to support multiple platforms and critical project execution across CMG, S&R, Cocoa Science, Better for You, Salty, Strategic Growth Platforms, and Integrating Brands, including approximately 25% travel primarily within the U.S. and occasional international travel as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical, Food, or Biochemical Engineering or equivalent Scientific Discipline plus 8+ years of applicable work experience, or master’s degree plus 5+ years of applicable work experience, or a Ph.D. plus 4+ years of applicable work experience.
• Has successfully led higher complexity Process Validations and Process Development projects within a company known for best-in-class innovation and product manufacturing.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in the Confectionery / Food Industry is preferred.

Skills

• Leadership and management skills.
• Technical expertise in food processing, process engineering, scale-up validation, commercialization, and manufacturing integration.
• Strategic planning and project management.
• Data analysis and decision-making.
• Collaboration and communication.
• Change management and continuous improvement.

Benefits

• Equal opportunity employer.

Pay

N/A

Schedule

N/A