Senior Manager, R&D

About the role

The Senior Manager, R&D at Chomps is responsible for providing technical and strategic leadership across manufacturing support, commercialization, quality improvement, and continuous improvement initiatives. This role is crucial for driving operational excellence and ensuring products consistently meet expectations for quality, cost, and performance.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Develop and execute R&D strategies that support manufacturing excellence, product quality, and business growth. Identify and prioritize opportunities to improve operational performance across the manufacturing network. Serve as a key technical advisor to Operations and Executive Leadership on manufacturing, commercialization, and quality initiatives. Establish long-term roadmaps for process improvement, capability development, and technical innovation.

• Team Leadership and Development: Lead, coach, and develop a growing R&D team, fostering accountability, technical excellence, and career growth. Establish team priorities and allocate resources to support business objectives. Build organizational capability through mentoring, talent development, and succession planning. Create systems and processes that improve team effectiveness and project execution.

• Commercialization and Manufacturing Excellence: Lead commercialization efforts from concept through full-scale production. Oversee complex plant trials, scale-ups, and process validations across multiple manufacturing locations. Ensure new products and process changes are successfully integrated into manufacturing operations. Partner with Operations and Supply Chain teams to improve launch readiness and execution.

• Manufacturing Support and Continuous Improvement: Provide technical leadership and support for manufacturing and co-manufacturing partners. Lead root cause investigations and resolution of significant quality, process, and operational challenges. Drive initiatives focused on improving yield, throughput, labor efficiency, and overall equipment performance. Develop scalable solutions that improve consistency across manufacturing sites.

• Quality, Cost, and Performance Optimization: Lead initiatives to improve product quality, consistency, and consumer experience. Identify and implement opportunities to reduce costs while maintaining product integrity. Use data, plant performance metrics, and consumer feedback to prioritize improvement efforts. Monitor key performance indicators and drive accountability for results.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Partner closely with Operations, FSQA, Procurement, Supply Chain, Marketing, and Commercial teams to align priorities and execute business objectives. Influence decision-making through technical expertise and business acumen. Communicate project status, risks, and recommendations to leadership and stakeholders. Build strong relationships with external suppliers, co-manufacturers, and technical partners.

• Documentation and Governance: Ensure robust documentation of formulations, process changes, validations, and technical learnings. Establish standards and best practices for project execution and manufacturing support. Maintain visibility into project portfolios, timelines, and performance metrics.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Food Science, Meat Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• 7 – 10+ years of experience in food manufacturing, product development, commercialization, process improvement, or technical operations.
• Experience in meat snacks, meat processing, or shelf-stable animal protein products.
• Demonstrated success leading complex manufacturing and commercialization initiatives across multiple facilities.
• Strong knowledge of food processing, formulation, quality systems, and manufacturing operations.
• Experience supporting and influencing co-manufacturing partners.
• Proven people leadership experience, including coaching, performance management, and talent development.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to balance quality, cost, speed, and scalability.
• Ability to influence cross-functional teams and drive alignment without direct authority.
• Excellent problem-solving, communication, and project management skills.
• Experience leading continuous improvement or operational excellence initiatives.
• Track record of delivering measurable improvements in yield, quality, cost, or manufacturing performance.
• Experience building teams and organizational capabilities within a high-growth environment.
• Ability to travel up to 50%.

Qualifications

• Experience in meat snacks, meat processing, or shelf-stable animal protein products.
• Strong knowledge of food processing, formulation, quality systems, and manufacturing operations.
• Experience supporting and influencing co-manufacturing partners.
• Proven people leadership experience, including coaching, performance management, and talent development.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to balance quality, cost, speed, and scalability.
• Ability to influence cross-functional teams and drive alignment without direct authority.
• Excellent problem-solving, communication, and project management skills.
• Experience leading continuous improvement or operational excellence initiatives.
• Track record of delivering measurable improvements in yield, quality, cost, or manufacturing performance.
• Experience building teams and organizational capabilities within a high-growth environment.
• Ability to travel up to 50%.

Skills

• Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Leadership and team management skills.
• Technical expertise in food processing and quality systems.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.
• Ability to influence cross-functional teams.
• Experience with continuous improvement initiatives.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401K with a 6% match.
• Monthly reimbursements for wellness and home office.
• Hybrid and flexible remote schedule.
• Chicago office open to those in the area.
• Paid maternity and paternity leave.
• Bi-annual total team in-person activities.
• Continual Education budget.
• Unlimited snacks (meat sticks).

Pay

The salary range for this role is $140,000 - $150,000 + 20% annual bonus.

Schedule

This is a full-time, exempt position.