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.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

New Product Development & Formulation

• 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.

Food Safety, Quality & Regulatory Compliance

• 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.
• Ensure appropriate testing and validation are completed for new products and significant formulation or process changes.
• Maintain accurate R&D records and documentation to support regulatory, customer, and internal requirements.

Product Improvement / Cost Reduction

• Work with Operations and Procurement to optimize raw material utilization while maintaining product quality and customer specifications.
• Identify opportunities to reduce formulation costs without negatively affecting quality, food safety, regulatory compliance, or customer expectations.
• Assist in establishing yield standards for new and existing products.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives related to yield, waste, rework, throughput, and product consistency.

R&D Leadership

• Lead and develop R&D personnel, including R&D Technicians, Product Developers, and other technical staff, as applicable.
• Establish priorities for R&D projects based on customer and business needs.
• Assign projects and monitor progress against established timelines.
• Establish consistent R&D procedures and documentation practices.
• Maintain confidentiality and appropriate controls over proprietary formulas, customer information, and intellectual property.

Education & Experience

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Meat Science, Food Science, Food Technology, or a related technical discipline.
• Minimum 3-5 years of progressive R&D / product-development experience.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills.

Preferred

• Direct experience with meat, poultry, or protein further processing.
• Previous R&D leadership or management experience.
• Experience with USDA-regulated manufacturing facilities.
• HACCP certification.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong knowledge of meat science, ingredient functionality, commercial meat processing equipment and practices.
• Demonstrated experience with commercial product development and commercialization.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities.
• Ability to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing with production employees, senior leadership, customers, suppliers, and technical professionals.
• Ability to work independently while leading cross-functional projects.
• Hands-on experience conducting plant trials and scaling products from bench or pilot development into full production.
• Strong attention to detail and documentation.
• Strong understanding of yield and the financial impact of formulations and processing decisions.