R&D Formulation Manager

Bel, makers of iconic brands including GoGo squeeZ, Babybel, The Laughing Cow, and Boursin is a growing global company that values your contributions, strives to create a sense of belonging for everyone and offers career growth and development opportunities, as well as competitive total compensation and meaningful well-being benefits from day one. For All, For Good, our company signature, reflects Bel’s commitment to sustainability and healthier and responsible food for all. The company has headquarters in Chicago (Bel Brands USA) and New York City (GoGo Squeez) and operates 4 manufacturing plants in Little Chute, WI; Brookings, SD; Traverse City, MI; and Nampa, ID.

Job Description Summary

The Research and Development (R&D) Food Formulation Manager will lead a team of food scientists to drive product innovation, process optimization, and market-ready solutions. This role balances hands-on technical expertise with managerial responsibilities, ensuring the seamless execution of new product development, recipe improvements, packaging innovations, and commercialization processes. The manager will function as a pivotal collaborator across R&D, manufacturing, marketing, and operations teams to deliver against business objectives while fostering an innovative research culture.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Team Leadership and Development (30%)

Lead, mentor, and manage a team of R&D food scientists to achieve project goals while promoting collaboration and professional growth.
Assign projects, provide technical guidance, and assess team performance to ensure alignment with business priorities.

Recipe and Product Development (20%)

Oversee the development of innovative food products from concept to commercialization, ensuring compliance with safety, nutritional, and sensory requirements.
Support the refinement of product formulations for quality improvement, cost reduction, and customer satisfaction.

Strategic Project Oversight (20%)

Manage key R&D projects, ensuring deadlines, budgets, and quality standards are met.
Develop project timelines and communicate progress with cross-functional teams, providing solutions to overcome technical or operational challenges.

Cross-Functional Collaboration (20%)

Liaise with marketing, quality assurance, packaging, and supply chain teams to align R&D projects with market and organizational strategies.
Partner with production teams to ensure smooth scale-up from lab to full-scale manufacturing.

Innovation Pipeline and Process Improvement (10%)

Drive processing innovations, incorporate sustainable materials, and improve production efficiencies.
Stay informed of emerging trends, technologies, and regulatory standards within the food science industry to ensure cutting-edge product development.

Qualifications

Education: A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, or a related field. A Ph.D. is a plus!
Experience: Minimum 10 years of experience in food product development, with at least 3 years in a managerial or team-lead capacity.
Expertise: Expertise in food formulation, ingredient functionality, and manufacturing processes. Strong experience with regulatory compliance (domestic and international).
Management: Proven ability to manage and inspire teams, delegate responsibilities, and optimize productivity.

Skills and Competencies

Leadership and Team Building: Demonstrates the ability to mentor and motivate a team of R&D professionals. Build a collaborative and innovative culture by addressing challenges and maintaining engagement.
Technical Expertise in Food Science: Apply deep technical knowledge of food ingredients, recipe development, and processing systems to troubleshoot formulations and achieve desired product outcomes.
Project Management: Effectively organize and prioritize multiple projects. Use tools like Gantt charts or software (e.g., Microsoft Project) to maintain timelines and communicate milestones.
Problem-Solving & Innovation: Resolve technical and operational challenges using analytical thinking and creative solutions, particularly in scaling experimental recipes to mass production.
Communication and Collaboration: Communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders, translating technical food science concepts into actionable insights or business strategies.

Working Conditions

Environment: This role is onsite located in our Nampa manufacturing facility.
Travel: Periodic travel may be required for plant trials, supplier engagements, or industry conferences. Up to 20% business travel may be required.
Physical Demands: Activities may include standing for extended periods, lifting ingredients or materials up to 25 pounds, and handling equipment/testing instruments. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Schedule: Full-time position with standard business hours, though flexibility may be needed during critical project phases or commercialization timelines. Hours of work will generally be during regular business hours with at least 40 hours a week.

Acknowledgement

This job description describes the general nature and level of work performed by the employee assigned to this position. It does not state or imply that these are the only duties and responsibilities assigned to the job. The employee may be required to perform other job-related duties as requested management. All requirements are subject to change over time and to possible modifications to reasonably accommodate individuals with a disability.

Total Rewards

Base Salary: $120,000 - $125,000
Bonus Opportunity: 15%
20 days PTO
4% match on 401k
Health care by Cigna
Free Vision & Dental

Bel Brands is an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, disability status or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Bel Brands prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories. It is also Bel Brand’s policy to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws respecting consideration of unemployment status in making hiring decisions.

Bel Brands is committed to recruiting, hiring and promoting people with disabilities and veterans. If you need an accommodation or assistance in using the website, please call 312-462-1500.

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