Director of Research Development
4 weeks ago
Director of Research and Development
Food Manufacturing
London, Ontario
The Company:
Our client is a leading North American Food Manufacturer with several facilities across Canada and the USA. A leader in their category selling into Food Service, Retail and Wholesale channels nationally, they are seeking a Director of Research & Development / Product Development to lead a team of about 5 Product Developers spanning two Canadian facilities.
The Opportunity:
Reporting to a VP Research & Development this is great opportunity for someone who loves to lead processes and people. This is a key leadership role responsible for driving product innovation, quality improvement, and technical excellence while ensuring all new and existing products meet performance, cost, and quality standards.
With an 20+ year history of high quality food products, this role requires someone who combines scientific rigour with creativity with a Continuous Improvement approach. Looking for a passionate, results-driven, and hands-on leader who combines scientific expertise with creativity and business acumen. The successful candidate will oversee all aspects of the R&D function—guiding product innovation from concept to commercialization, managing a high-performing technical team, and collaborating cross-functionally with operations, procurement, sales, and marketing.
Key Responsibilities & Job Duties:
• Lead, mentor, and develop the R&D team while fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and innovation.
• Oversee the development and commercialization of new bakery products and improvement of existing items.
• Stay current on consumer trends, technical advancements, and ingredient innovations within the food and bakery industry.
• Partner with Operations, Purchasing, and Marketing to execute product scale-up, ensure quality standards, and align with strategic business goals.
• Manage vendor approvals, sourcing of alternate ingredients, and Design-to-Value initiatives to optimize cost and efficiency.
• Serve as the technical liaison for customer and sales teams, providing solutions and ensuring successful project delivery.
• Identify and implement continuous improvement opportunities in product formulation, processing, and technology.
• Establish clear priorities, budgets, and performance metrics to support R&D and company-wide objectives.
Qualifications & Competencies:
• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, Chemistry, or a related discipline.
• 10–15 years of progressive experience in food product development, with at least 5 years in a leadership or management capacity.
• Proven track record of successful product launches from concept to commercialization.
• Strong understanding of bakery systems, ingredients, and production processes would be an asset.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and project management skills.
• Financial acumen and experience managing departmental budgets.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, SharePoint).
• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time.
This is an outstanding opportunity for a dynamic R&D leader to shape the future of a growing food manufacturer and contribute to developing the next generation of bakery products enjoyed across North America.
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London, Canada CPG Executive Search Inc. Full timeDirector of Research and Development Food Manufacturing London, Ontario The Company: Our client is a leading North American Food Manufacturer with several facilities across Canada and the USA. A leader in their category selling into Food Service, Retail and Wholesale channels nationally, they are seeking a Director of Research & Development / Product...
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london, Canada CPG Executive Search Inc. Full timeDirector of Research and Development Food Manufacturing London, Ontario The Company: Our client is a leading North American Food Manufacturer with several facilities across Canada and the USA. A leader in their category selling into Food Service, Retail and Wholesale channels nationally, they are seeking a Director of Research & Development / Product...
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London, Canada CPG Executive Search Inc. Full timeDirector of Research and Development Food Manufacturing London, Ontario The Company: Our client is a leading North American Food Manufacturer with several facilities across Canada and the USA. A leader in their category selling into Food Service, Retail and Wholesale channels nationally, they are seeking a Director of Research & Development / Product...
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London, Canada CPG Executive Search Inc. Full timeDirector of Research and Development Food Manufacturing London, Ontario The Company: Our client is a leading North American Food Manufacturer with several facilities across Canada and the USA. A leader in their category selling into Food Service, Retail and Wholesale channels nationally, they are seeking a Director of Research & Development / Product...
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