About the job
Position Summary
The Sr R&D Product Developer (Pet Food) is responsible for the hands-on research, development and commercialization of branded and private-label pet food and treat products from concept through launch.
The role combines R&D, product development, technical problem-solving, project coordination and commercialization support. Working closely with Marketing, Sales, Procurement, Quality, Operations, Engineering and suppliers, the Sr R&D Product Developer develops products that meet quality, ingredient, cost, timing and customer requirements.
The role will help bring thoughtful, high-quality products to life for dogs and the people who care for them. This role is well suited to someone who is comfortable working in a fast-growing environment where priorities, processes and product opportunities continue to evolve. As the business grows, the role may take on broader responsibility in product innovation, commercialization and cross-functional project coordination.
Primary Responsibilities
R&D, Product Validation and Technical Support
· Plan and execute benchtop, pilot and plant trials.
· Review trial results, document findings and recommend next steps.
· Support scale-up and validation of new and revised products from bench formulation through commercial production.
· Validate manufacturing processes, including process parameters, product quality requirements and technical readiness.
· Troubleshoot issues related to product performance, ingredients, processing, quality, shelf life and manufacturing.
· Lead or support projects that improve product quality, consistency, shelf life, manufacturability, productivity and cost.
· Work with Product Development, Operations and Engineering to identify process improvements, equipment requirements and manufacturing solutions.
· Support validation of new equipment and manufacturing capabilities.
· Create, maintain and update ingredient, process and finished-product specifications.
· Maintain current ingredient and finished-product information in internal and customer specification systems.
· Provide technical input required for commercialization, including specifications, packaging compatibility, ingredient information, product samples, claims support and customer-specific requirements.
Product Development and Innovation
· Research pet food, treat, ingredient, nutrition and functional trends to identify new product and product-improvement opportunities.
· In partnership with Marketing, contribute to insight-led product concepts that are relevant to dogs, pet parents and the CookiePal brand.
· Translate approved product concepts and customer requirements into product development plans, formulations and prototypes.
· Develop and refine formulations that meet product, ingredient, quality, cost, timing and customer requirements.
· Benchmark competitive products and identify opportunities to improve product quality, functionality, value and differentiation.
· Provide technical input on ingredients, formulations, product feasibility, claims, product differentiation and manufacturing implications.
· Work with Procurement to source and qualify ingredients that meet functional, quality, cost and supplier requirements.
· Support product design requirements for private-label customers and branded product initiatives.
· Maintain product development records, formulations, sample information, timelines and technical deliverables for assigned projects.
· Support assigned projects through the company’s NPI and Stage-Gate process.
Project Support and Continuous Improvement
- Work closely with Marketing, Sales, Procurement, Quality, Operations, Engineering, suppliers and external partners on assigned product development and commercialization projects.
- Coordinate assigned product development activities to support project timing, technical readiness and launch requirements.
- Communicate technical risks, dependencies and decisions required for assigned projects to the appropriate functional lead.
- Support Stage-Gate reviews, project updates and launch-readiness activities as required.
- Support improvements to product development, R&D, commercialization and technical documentation processes.
- Complete special projects as assigned.
- Other duties as required.
Education and Qualifications
- Degree or diploma in Food Science, Food Engineering, Nutrition or a related field.
- Minimum three years of experience in R&D, product development, food science or commercialization in pet food, pet treats, food, snacks or a related CPG category.
- Experience with formulation, prototype development, trials, specifications and commercialization.
- Experience working with ingredients, suppliers, manufacturing facilities, co-manufacturers or packaging is preferred.
- Knowledge of food safety, quality systems, ingredient specifications and regulatory requirements is preferred.
- Experience with formulation and specification software is an asset.
- Experience with NPI, Stage-Gate, cross-functional project coordination or commercialization processes is an asset.
Skills and Abilities
· Strong R&D and technical product development skills.
· Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting skills, with a practical approach to getting work done.
· Ability to manage multiple projects, shifting priorities and timelines in a fast-growing business.
· Strong organization, documentation and coordination skills.
· Ability to balance product quality, ingredient standards, cost, manufacturability and speed to market.
· Curious about pet food, ingredients, nutrition, product trends and new opportunities.
· Creative and practical in developing products that are differentiated, feasible to make and right for the brand.
· Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
· Detail-oriented, with the ability to identify risks and issues early.
· Comfortable working independently and taking ownership of assigned projects.
· Interested in building broader experience in product innovation, commercialization and cross-functional project coordination.
What Will Make You Successful
· You are curious about making high quality pet food and interested in food, ingredients, nutrition, consumer trends and what pet parents are looking for next.
· You enjoy turning ideas into products that are exciting, practical and ready to make at scale.
· You are comfortable working in a fast-growing company where priorities can shift and processes are still being built.
· You can move between hands-on development work and project coordination/management without losing momentum.
· You bring structure to projects, keep details organized and follow through on commitments.
· You are practical and solutions-focused when issues come up in formulation, trials, ingredients, packaging or manufacturing.
· You know how to balance product quality, ingredient standards, cost, manufacturability and speed to market.
· You work well with both technical and commercial teams and are comfortable asking questions or raising risks early.
· You take ownership of your work and are interested in growing your experience in innovation, commercialization and cross-functional project work.
Pay: $95,000.00-$110,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
