Research & Development Manager

We believe being healthy should not require tradeoffs. SCN BestCo is a leading innovator, developer and manufacturer of Vitamin, Mineral & Supplement (VMS), Over-the-Counter (OTC) and prebiotics/probiotics in enjoyable forms such as gummies, lozenges and chews. With over 50 years of excellence, our team leads the way in changing how consumers make healthier choices.  With unique food science expertise and proprietary processes, we’ve pioneered many firsts.  The fire in our belly to create new to the world products has guided and continues to be core to our mission of making health and wellness more enjoyable. Come join us and become a part of our winning formula!

The Manager, Research & Development leads and manages a team of professionals in Research and Development (R&D) to develop and launch new products for strategic customers to support company growth and profit goals, optimize existing products and processes to improve product quality, increase efficiency and reduce cost, and support site continuous improvement efforts. This position manages, coordinates, and provides strategic planning of ideation, development, commercialization, and improvement activities concerned with key customers.

Estimated starting annual base salary is $145,677.78 - $218,516.67 per year less applicable withholdings and deductions, paid on a bi-weekly basis. Please note that the actual compensation offered may vary based on relevant factors as determined by the Company, which may include, but is not limited to, location, experience, qualifications, education, skillset, and market conditions. The target base compensation for this role is in the low to middle of the range, with the top of the range reserved for only exceptional circumstances. In addition, this role is eligible for a discretionary, variable annual incentive, paid based on Company performance factors. SCN BestCo offers a competitive benefits package to eligible full-time employees, which currently includes medical, dental, and vision plans, 401(k) with employer matching contributions, life insurance, paid time off, tuition reimbursement, and more, as well as paid sick leave in accordance with applicable law. Each benefit is subject to eligibility requirements as specified in plan documents, and the Company reserves the right to modify the benefits it offers from time to time.

• Lead R&D team to develop and launch new products from ingredient and technology research, ideation, formulation, bench-top prototypes, to scale-up and commercialization. Ensure new products are developed and launched within project timelines and financial targets while meeting quality and regulatory requirements.


• Collaborate with Commercial team and customers to develop multi-year new product pipelines.

• Support optimization of existing products to improve quality and production efficiency.


• Support cross functional teams including R&D, Product Management, Quality and Operations teams to standardize and optimize development process, documentation, and implement trainings.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and lead R&D efforts to ensure group engagement and alignment for new product development, commercialization, and implementation.


• Build alignment with Process Development, Quality, Operations, and Engineering teams to develop effective and efficient processes to scale up and commercialize new products and transfer products across manufacturing sites.

• Support R&D continuous improvement activities and work with Quality and Operations teams to identify VIP opportunities.


• Collaborate with R&D teams within VMS network to share learnings and best practices and troubleshoot.


• Support Santa Cruz site breakthrough innovation (Benefit Pillar) activities.

• Travel as needed to attend trade shows, conferences, training, product transfer, and other offsite meetings and events.

This position carries out People Leader Responsibilities in accordance with the Company’s policies and applicable laws.

Responsibilities include:

• Recommend personnel actions (pay adjustments, promotions, transfers, terminations).


• Conduct performance reviews and manage individual performance of direct reports, if applicable.


• Communicate personnel actions following human resources (HR) and department head approval.


• Ensure safety and quality standards are enforced and met.


• Partner with human resources to interview/screen potential new hires.


• Organize training and development opportunities for direct reports.


• Update processes and procedures.


• Oversee team/employee development.

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in food science, technology, engineering, or related field.


• 10 years’ work experience in the food or dietary supplement industry, with at least 8 years in R&D.


• 2 years’ progressive professional leadership experience or 1 year of direct supervisory experience.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities (KSAs):

• Proven food science and related knowledge.


• Strong leadership, innovation, organization, project management, time management, and customer service skills.


• Computer proficiency including Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Microsoft Office.


• Adapts to changes in the work environment; Manages competing demands; Changes approach or method to best fit the situation; Able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.


• Ability to apply advanced mathematical concepts such as exponents, logarithms, quadratic equations, and permutations. Ability to apply mathematical operations to such tasks as frequency distribution, determination of test reliability and validity, analysis of variance, correlation techniques, sampling theory, and factor analysis.


• Must have the ability to communicate effectively, verbally and written, with internal staff and management. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community. Ability to write speeches and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format. Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.


• Must be able to demonstrate practical problem solving and trouble shooting skills. Ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to a wide range of intellectual and practical problems. Ability to deal with nonverbal symbolism (formulas, scientific equations, graphs, musical notes, etc.,) in its most difficult phases. Ability to deal with a variety of abstract and concrete variables.

• Master’s degree in a relevant field.


• Gummy manufacturing experience.