Director of Research Development (Tracy)

Get AI-powered advice on this job and more exclusive features.

This range is provided by Zion Talent Partners. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

$125,000.00/yr - $150,000.00/yr

Direct message the job poster from Zion Talent Partners

Executive Search | Direct Hire Placement | HR Solutions | District Director at SHRM California

Position: Director of Research & Development

Location: Tracy, CA

Salary: $130,000 – $150,000 annually

Overview:

Our client, a dynamic and rapidly growing food manufacturer, is seeking an innovative Director of Research and Development to drive the creation of cutting-edge food products and advance ingredient solutions for both branded and private label customers. This is a pivotal leadership role, perfect for someone passionate about healthy, trend-forward food innovation that stands out in the marketplace. In close collaboration with the Operations Quality Assurance and customers, the Director of R&D will ensure new product initiatives align with facility capabilities, regulatory standards, and safety requirements. The ideal candidate will also play a key strategic role in aligning product innovation with the company’s long-term vision—delivering distinctive, health-conscious offerings that meet evolving consumer tastes.

This position requires a balance of creativity, technical knowledge, and leadership, along with a strong grasp of food manufacturing operations and food safety best practices.

Key Responsibilities:

• Enhance Existing Products: Partner with cross-functional leaders to refine current offerings and continuously improve quality and production efficiency.
• Drive Innovation: Use trend analysis, brand goals, and in-house expertise to develop original product concepts that can be scaled within existing production capabilities.
• Lead Projects from Start to Finish: Oversee the full product development lifecycle—from concept ideation and benchtop testing to pilot runs and commercial production.
• Support Sales & Customer Engagement: Collaborate with sales teams and brokers to showcase how our client's ingredients can be used in customer products; assist with customization as needed.
• Product & Process Training: Train production staff on new product rollouts, emphasizing adherence to quality, customer specifications, and food safety protocols.
• Manage Budgets & Cost Modeling: Lead the R&D budgeting process, track expenditures, and work with the CEO and Production Scheduler to assess production cost scenarios for new items.
• Regulatory & Safety Compliance: Partner with QA and Operations to create compliant production plans that meet all food safety, health, and documentation standards (e.g., HACCP).
• Sourcing & Specifications: Create detailed ingredient specifications and collaborate with Procurement on sourcing high-quality inputs not made in-house.
• Flavor Development: Create bold, on-trend recipes using sun-dried fruits, tomatoes, olive oil, global spices, and more—delivering commercial-ready formulas that excite consumers and expand the company’s portfolio.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science or a minimum of 5 years of R&D leadership experience in the food industry
• Deep understanding of food trends and consumer preferences
• Prior experience working with fruit-based ingredients, sauces, spices, or chutneys
• Proven leadership skills with a track record of motivating cross-functional teams
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities at all organizational levels
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• High attention to detail and quality

Compensation: 125,000-150,000 with relocation assistance available

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Director

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Research and Science

• Industries

  Fruit and Vegetable Preserves Manufacturing and Food and Beverage Manufacturing

Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Zion Talent Partners by 2x

Inferred from the description for this job

Medical insurance

Vision insurance

401(k)

Get notified when a new job is posted.

Sign in to set job alerts for “Director of Research Development” roles.

Director - Laboratory Directed Research and Development Program - Active Clearance Required

Livermore, CA $390,690 - $497,988 2 days ago

We’re unlocking community knowledge in a new way. Experts add insights directly into each article, started with the help of AI.