Research & Development Manager

King’s Command is seeking a qualified candidate to lead our Research & Development team at our facility located in Versailles, OH.

The Research & Development (R&D) Manager is responsible for leading the R&D team in new product development, testing, commercialization, least cost formulation, and process improvement activities.

The R&D Manager will work closely with Sales, Customers, Operations, Quality Assurance / Food Safety, Supply Chain Management, and Finance on product-development projects from initial customer concept through full-scale commercialization and optimization of existing products that improve product performance and provide cost savings while maintaining compliance with food safety and regulatory requirements.

This is a hands-on leadership position requiring strong technical knowledge of meat science, ingredient functionality, further-processing methods, and commercial food manufacturing.

• Lead the development of new products from initial concept through commercialization.
• Develop and modify formulations based on customer requirements, product specifications, processing capabilities, nutritional targets, and cost objectives.
• Develop customer samples and prototypes for evaluation and approval.
• Develop products that achieve desired flavor, texture, appearance, cook characteristics, yield, and shelf life.
• Lead the transition of products from laboratory or pilot development into full-scale commercial production.

· Ensure finalized formulas, specifications, processing instructions, and product standards are accurately documented and communicated.

• Work closely with Quality Assurance/Food Safety to ensure new and modified products meet regulatory and customer requirements.
• Assist with the development and review of product specifications, ingredient statements, nutritional information, allergen declarations, processing requirements, and labeling information.