R&D Process Specialist

About the role

The R&D Process Specialist is responsible for designing, optimizing, and validating product, process, equipment, and packaging parameters to support a smooth handover to Operations. This position will assess process and resource needs, coordinate production trials, validate operating parameters, and ensure complete work instructions, validation reports, and handover documentation. The R&D Process Specialist will drive production efficiency, consistency, process control, and operational readiness for new and improved products. The Process Specialist will work closely with R&D, Production, Quality, Planning, Engineering, and other internal and external partners to support scale-up, troubleshooting, equipment commissioning, training, and successful commercialization.

Responsibilities

• Assess equipment, process, and resource needs for new products and collaborate with Product Developers to scale up formulations and processes.
• Lead pre-trial discussions with Production, Quality, Planning, and R&D to define trial plans, responsibilities, and resource requirements.
• Validate product and process parameters through three successful test runs before turnover to Operations.
• Prepare detailed validation reports with clear actions and timelines, and lead post-trial reviews to capture key learnings, issues, and next steps.
• Formalize the release of new products to Operations through completion of the handover process and stakeholder sign-off.
• Collaborate with Production and Engineering on scale-up activities and initial operator training.
• Create detailed work instructions for each new product in partnership with Production supervisors and leads.
• Update standard operating procedures and work instructions as needed and ensure complete documentation for new or improved recipes and processes.
• Build accessible project documentation in alignment with the new product development procedure using the appropriate tools.
• Ensure formula and know-how confidentiality.
• Partner with Operations to identify process improvement opportunities that support efficiency, product quality, and process control targets.
• Provide real-time production troubleshooting and support root cause analysis for quality or processing issues.
• Conduct Production and Quality training as needed.
• Update rework and fat-wash matrices as needed while collaborating with Product Developers to optimize current formulations using new ingredient technologies.
• Monitor emerging equipment, process, and ingredient technologies and propose solutions that may differentiate products or improve performance.
• Collaborate with Group and Local Engineering teams to assess new technologies and equipment.
• Support commissioning of new production and packaging lines, including the design and execution of test protocols across commissioning stages.
• Validate recipes and process parameters for new lines through three successful production runs and complete standard validation and handover requirements before full commercialization.