R&D / Innovation Manager

About the role

This is a newly created opportunity for a hands-on R&D / Innovation Manager to launch and lead the Chicago Ingredients Applications Lab. The successful candidate will provide technical support across the United States, partner with sales and product marketing teams, and help strengthen Quadra's position as a trusted solutions provider.

Responsibilities

• Launch and operationalize the Chicago Ingredients Applications Lab, including equipment readiness, laboratory workflows, safety practices, documentation, ingredient and sample management, and day-to-day operating standards.
• Develop a practical lab strategy and technical-support roadmap aligned with the growth priorities of the U.S. Ingredients business.
• Serve as the lead technical partner to the U.S. commercial team, providing formulation guidance, application troubleshooting, product comparisons, prototype development and customer-facing technical support.
• Translate customer needs and market trends into application concepts, demonstrations and prototypes that showcase Quadra’s ingredient portfolio and create commercial opportunities.
• Partner with sales and product marketing on customer calls, technical presentations, innovation sessions, product training, and targeted market campaigns.
• Create and maintain a sample and prototype library, application protocols, formulation records, and reusable technical resources for the commercial team.
• Collaborate closely with Quality, Regulatory, Operations, Marketing and the broader North American R&D network to ensure solutions are practical, compliant and aligned with customer requirements.
• Achieve meaningful measures for lab activity and impact, including project pipeline, responsiveness, prototype activity, customer engagement, and commercial outcomes.
• Assess future capability and talent needs; help define roles, recruit and onboard additional technical team members as business demand grows.
• Manage the lab operating budget and recommend future equipment or capability investments based on business priorities and customer needs.
• Represent Quadra at selected customer events, supplier meetings, industry conferences, and trade shows.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science or a related discipline; a master’s degree is considered a strong asset.
• Minimum of 10+ years of progressive R&D, applications, product development, or technical service experience in the food industry.
• Strong hands-on formulation and prototype-development experience across relevant food or nutrition application categories.
• Demonstrated experience of troubleshooting formulations and translating technical work into practical customer solutions.
• Experience establishing or improving laboratory processes, methods, documentation and operating practices is strongly preferred.
• Previous people leadership, team building, mentoring or project-leadership experience; experience recruiting and developing technical talent is an asset.
• Working knowledge of food safety, food microbiology, and good laboratory practices.
• Experience supporting commercialization or scale-up in a food production environment is an asset.
• Strong digital and documentation skills, including Microsoft 365.
• Experience with nutrition-formulation software such as Genesis is an asset.

Skills

• Builder mindset
• Technical credibility
• Commercial curiosity
• Customer focus
• Leadership
• Collaboration
• Accountability
• Creativity
• Sense of urgency
• Problem solving
• Organization
• Dynamic communication

Benefits

The Chicago lab is safe, organized, operational, and recognized internally as a responsive, high-value resource. The U.S. commercial team has stronger technical confidence, better tools and more opportunities to engage customers through innovation. Customers and suppliers experience Quadra as a credible, solutions-oriented technical partner. Lab activities are connected to strategic priorities and contribute to a visible pipeline of customer projects and commercial opportunities. A clear, scalable plan is in place for future capabilities, equipment, and technical talent as the business grows.

Pay

The expected base salary range for this position is $125,000.00 to $198,600 USD per year, depending on your experience, skills, and qualifications.

Schedule

This is a full-time on-site role.