VP of Research & Development

Position Responsibilities may include, but not limited to

• Develop and execute the company's R&D and product innovation strategy to align with business objectives and market trends
• Lead the end-to-end product development process, including ideation, formulation, testing, and commercialization of home-delivered meal solutions
• Identify emerging food trends, ingredients, and technologies to create innovative, nutritious, and scalable meal products
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including, Procurement, Quality Assurance, Operations, and Marketing to ensure seamless product development and launch
• Drive cost optimization while maintaining product integrity, taste, and nutritional value
• Establish and oversee processes within R&D to meet safety and quality measures in collaboration with regulatory and Food Safety team
• Manage R&D budgets, timelines, and resource allocation to meet company goals
• Develop and lead a high-performing R&D team, fostering innovation and collaboration
• Evaluate and establish partnerships with suppliers, co-manufacturers, and research institutions to enhance product innovation
• Develop and oversee the formulation of medically tailored meals, ensuring compliance with dietary and medical guidelines
• Stay abreast of regulatory changes, industry standards, and consumer preferences to ensure compliance and competitive positioning
• Communicate technical concepts and R&D strategies effectively to executive leadership and key stakeholders
• Possess an understanding of key scientific principles to develop meals that will meet shelf-life guidelines for safety and quality
• Apply deep expertise of product development and knowledge of manufacturing, quality assurance, microbiology, and culinary techniques in working with food scientists, process engineers, microbiologists, food safety managers and production managers to ensure highest quality of products

Required Skills and Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in food science, culinary arts, nutrition, or related field
• The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 15 years’ progressive leadership experience in Research & Development, with at least 5 years in a senior management role overseeing R&D, and product development initiative within the food, health, and nutrition or meal services industry
• Expertise in Food Innovation & Product Development with a proven experience leading R&D team in developing and scaling food products, with a deep understanding of ingredient functionality, sensory evaluation, and product commercialization
• Proven ability to successfully manage launch product from development to scale up to production setting
• Proven experience in the food or meal services industry, with a deep understanding of the complexities and challenges associated with food production, quality control, and regulatory compliance
• Strong track record of partnering with operations and manufacturing teams to optimize product quality, cost efficiency, and production scalability
• Extensive experience navigating FDA, USDA, and other food safety regulations, ensuring compliance, and implementing best practices in quality control
• Ability to balance creativity with cost-effectiveness and operational feasibility
• Ability to drive innovation and continuous improvement, challenge the status quo, and translate consumer insights into successful product offerings
• Demonstrated success in leading diverse teams, fostering collaboration across R&D, operations, marketing, and supply chain to bring new products to market
• Strong capability in managing R&D budgets, optimizing resources, and making data-driven investment decisions
• Experience attracting, mentoring, and retaining top-tier talent in an R&D environment, fostering a culture of creativity, accountability, and excellence
• Ability to proactively identify challenges, troubleshoot issues, and implement effective solutions in a fast-paced, evolving industry
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex R&D strategies and initiatives to stakeholders at all levels
• Ability to resolve issues effectively and efficiently; ability to proactively deter issues before they occur
• Experience with food safety regulations, including FDA, USDA, HACCP, and GMP requirements

Preferred Skills and Experience

• PhD in food science, culinary arts, nutrition, or related field
• Experience with modified atmosphere packaging

Physical Requirements

• Repetitive motions that include the wrists, hands and/or fingers
• Sedentary work that primarily involves sitting, remaining in a stationary position for prolonged periods
• Visual perception to perform job including peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus