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Core Competencies
Role fitCore Competencies
Use this summary to align your resume positioning with the role.
Demonstrates expertise in food product development and commercialization, with a strong focus on formulation, ingredient functionality, and sensory evaluation. Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage projects from concept through to full-scale production while ensuring compliance with food safety and quality standards.
Highest-signal resume keywords
Food Product DevelopmentFormulation And Ingredient FunctionalitySensory Test DesignProject ManagementTechnical Problem Solving
ATS Keywords
Tailor your resumeApplicant Tracking System Keywords
Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.
Hard Skills
Food ScienceFood EngineeringProduct CommercializationCost OptimizationTechnical OperationsHigh-Protein FormulasPlant TrialsProcess ValidationIngredient EvaluationConsumer Insights Translation
Soft Skills
Cross-Functional Team LeadershipInfluencing Without AuthorityRelationship BuildingCommunicationProblem Solving
Tools & Technologies
Quality SystemsLabeling StandardsProject Management ToolsSensory Analysis SoftwareResearch Vendor Management
Industry Keywords
CPGSnack FormatsFood SafetyRegulatory ComplianceContinuous ImprovementOperational ExcellenceConsumer ResearchPilot PlantsProduction FacilitiesAllergen Management
About the role
Key responsibilities & impact- Lead development of new products, line extensions, renovations, and cost-optimization projects across snack formats.
- Partner with Marketing to translate consumer insights and product concepts into formulas meeting sensory, cost, manufacturing, regulatory, and retailer requirements.
- Define product requirements, assess technical and food safety feasibility, and support claims substantiation with Regulatory.
- Evaluate ingredients and processing methods for performance, scalability, and cost.
- Own commercialization from feasibility through full-scale production.
- Lead plant trials, scale-ups, and process validations across co-manufacturers, making go/no-go decisions.
- Solve technical problems in high-protein formulas.
- Research emerging ingredients, processing technologies, and category trends.
- Serve as the primary technical resource for products throughout their lifecycle.
- Lead day-to-day technical support for co-manufacturing partners.
- Partner with Quality on root-cause investigations and lasting corrective actions.
- Drive improvements in yield, throughput, consistency, product quality, and consumer experience.
- Deliver cost savings through formula optimization, ingredient changes, and process improvements.
- Use plant data, consumer feedback, and sensory results to prioritize improvements and track KPIs.
- Run internal employee sensory studies.
- Scope and manage external consumer research, including IHUTs, central location tests, and competitive benchmarking.
- Write RFPs, select and manage research vendors, drive timelines, and present findings to leadership.
- Align Operations, FSQA, Procurement, Supply Chain, Marketing, and Sales on priorities and launches.
- Communicate project status, risks, and recommendations to leadership.
- Build relationships with suppliers, co-manufacturers, and technical partners.
- Document formulas, process changes, validations, and technical learnings.
- Set stage-gate, change-control, and document-control standards.
- Improve product-development processes, tools, team efficiency, portfolio visibility, timelines, and performance metrics.
Requirements
What you’ll need- Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, or a related field.
- 5–10 years of progressive experience in CPG food product development, commercialization, or technical operations, including at least 3 years leading projects end to end.
- Experience with popcorn, baked or fried snacks.
- Track record of leading products from concept through scale-up, plant trials, and commercial launch.
- Strong formulation and ingredient functionality skills.
- Experience leading trials and resolving technical issues with co-manufacturers.
- Experience designing sensory tests, including triangle, paired comparison, hedonic, and descriptive tests.
- Experience managing outside consumer research vendors, including IHUTs.
- Working knowledge of food safety, quality systems, labeling, and retailer specifications.
- Strong project management skills and ability to influence cross-functional teams without direct authority.
- Willingness to travel about 25–40%.
- Preferred: experience with high-protein or better-for-you products.
- Preferred: experience building R&D processes in an emerging, high-growth company.
- Preferred: experience with continuous improvement or operational excellence methods.
- Regular travel to pilot plants and production facilities, including exposure to allergens and PPE requirements.