Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Dairy Science, Chemical Engineering, Food Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
5–8 years of progressive experience in food and beverage product development and commercialization, preferably including dairy, yogurt, or coffee products.
Minimum of 3+ years of experience commercializing products from concept through full-scale manufacturing, including leading plant trials, process validations, startup activities, and scale-up projects.
Proven experience working directly with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Procurement teams on product development and commercialization initiatives.
Strong understanding of food manufacturing processes and commercialization requirements in a food and beverage environment.
Demonstrated expertise in product development, including formulation and optimization for manufacturability and quality.
Hands-on experience with commercialization and scale-up, including pilot plant work and transition to full-scale production.
Solid project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and meet aggressive timelines.
Cross-functional leadership capabilities, with experience guiding and influencing teams without direct authority.
Strong skills in root cause analysis and consumer complaint investigation related to product quality and performance.
Experience providing customer-facing technical support and delivering technical presentations.
Proficiency in process optimization and continuous improvement methodologies within a manufacturing or R&D; setting.
Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills suitable for technical and non-technical audiences.
Experience in food and beverage manufacturing environments, including dairy, non-dairy, beverage, aerosol, frozen novelty, or related categories.
Experience in food manufacturing, food production, or beverage manufacturing with a focus on process improvement.
Knowledge of quality assurance, quality control, microbiology, and food quality principles as they relate to product development and commercialization.
Familiarity with regulatory compliance in the food industry, including FDA regulations, SQF standards, labeling requirements, and food safety programs.
Experience in research and development, including concept creation, prototype development, and product optimization.
Demonstrated ability to work on Food/Beverage Manufacturing projects that require close coordination between R&D; and plant operations.
Strong orientation toward continuous improvement and process optimization in both laboratory and plant environments.
Ability to mentor and develop junior technical staff, fostering a collaborative and high-performance R&D; culture.
