Mgr R&D Process Technology

Key Responsibilities

• Portfolio & Resource Management
• 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 & Develop High-Performing Technical Teams
• Lead a team of 3–5 professional staff, along with temporary contractors or consultants as needed.
• Support team growth through coaching, technical skill development, and capability building to strengthen Hershey’s Global Science and Technology expertise.
• Foster a culture of curiosity, disciplined execution, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Lead Technical Validation & Scale-Up Execution
• Develop and own the technical strategy for validation, scale-up, and commercialization of new products, processes, and technologies.
• Partner closely with Product Development, Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, and Marketing to ensure solutions meet performance, quality, regulatory, and business requirements.
• Champion data-driven decision-making, advanced analytics, and digital tools, such as process modeling, inline sensing, and automation, to improve technical outcomes.
• Capital Project & Engineering Alignment
• Partner with Engineering and 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.
• Partners with R&D capital team to assign PM support for identified technical R&D capital projects.

Minimum Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• 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.
• Strong portfolio, resource, and project management skills, including prioritization, conflict resolution, financial understanding, and alignment of technical programs with business objectives.
• 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.

Minimum Education & Experience

• 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.