Sr. R&D Manager

Solina USA, is a proud Solina Group company, specializing in the creation of customized seasonings and sauces. We take pride in our four strategically located production facilities across the United States which empower us to deliver high-quality, innovative flavor solutions efficiently to our customers. Our focus is on catering to Quick Service Restaurants, Fast casual, Casual dining, and food manufacturers, where our commitment lies in providing exceptional flavor solutions tailored to their unique needs. Solina USA has a proven national reputation of providing an exceptional customer experience by providing a high-quality product at a cost-competitive price point. We create dynamic relationships where our creativity can be visible through our customers culinary vision making “Food Matter.” 

SUMMARY OF POSITION 

The Senior R&D Manager will lead and manage all phases of Research & Development, with a strong focus on customer engagement, product innovation, and cross-functional execution. This role is responsible for overseeing complex product development projects from concept through commercialization, driving cost optimization, and ensuring technical excellence aligned with global regulatory and market requirements. This individual will be a key customer-facing leader, frequently presenting technical concepts and leading plant trials to bring ideas to life. Success in this role requires strong leadership, technical depth, and the ability to navigate global product requirements across multiple markets. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS 

This document in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying the position. 

• Serve as a customer-facing technical leader, building relationships with key accounts, understanding their needs, and delivering tailored product solutions. 

• Lead presentations of R&D concepts, technical proposals, and commercialization plans to internal executives and external customers. 

• Direct the design, development, and commercialization of innovative food products with a global reach, ensuring compliance with regional regulatory standards and ingredient limitations. 

• Collaborate cross-functionally with Operations, Sales, QA, Regulatory, Procurement, and external partners to align R&D efforts with business strategy and customer expectations. 

• Lead and participate in plant trials, pilot runs, and product scale-ups to ensure technical feasibility and successful implementation. 

• Translate business challenges into R&D opportunities that deliver value, efficiency, and differentiation in the marketplace. 

• Drive strategic pipeline development and prioritize projects to support both short-term growth and long-term innovation. 

• Mentor and develop a high-performing team of scientists and technologists, fostering a culture of creativity, accountability, and excellence. 

• Oversee experimental design, technical documentation, and validation processes. 

• Monitor industry trends, global flavor profiles, ingredient innovations, and new processing technologies. 

• Manage vendor relationships and co-manufacturer technical activities as needed. 

REQUIRED SKILLS, EDUCATION, AND EXPERIENCE 

Any combination of education and experience providing the required skill and knowledge for successful job performance will be considered.  Typical qualifications would be: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related technical field. 

• Minimum 8–10 years of progressive experience in R&D roles, including 3+ years in a leadership capacity. 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• Proven ability to engage with customers in a technical, solutions-oriented capacity. 

• Exceptional presentation and communication skills, with experience delivering content to executive and customer audiences. 

• Demonstrated expertise in product formulation, ingredient functionality, and process scale-up. 

• Experience developing products for global markets, with working knowledge of regional regulatory requirements (e.g., EU, APAC, LATAM). 

• Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to lead cross-functional teams. 

• Comfortable working in lab and manufacturing environments, including leading plant trials. 

• Proficient in experimental design, data interpretation, and technical reporting. 

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and adapt to evolving business needs. 

Equipment Experience (as applicable): 

• Centrifuge, Titrator (salt, TA), Brix, Hunter Color, Desiccator, Moisture Oven 

• Blenders, Colloid Mill, Lightning Mixer, Viscometer, Brookfield Viscometer 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY 

Yes 

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS 

25-30%