Associate Director, R&D

Job ID: EB-1599671473
Job Title: Associate Director, R&D
Location: Warrendale, PA

Associate Director, RD – Innovation and Tomato Taste Elevation-Research-Warrendale, PA

Work for one of North America’s fastest growing companies with a great leadership team offers employees tremendous opportunities for growth, competitive compensation, and employee appreciation.

Company Information:

• One of the largest food manufacturing companies in the world
• $27bn in net sales in 2022. 39,000 employees. 81 factories across 40 countries
• Over 200 legendary brands including Philadelphia Cream Cheese and Oscar Mayer

We Value and Appreciate Our Employees:

• Competitive Compensation and Full Benefits
• Access to holistic wellness benefits and perks, including medical, dental and vision coverage.
• Six weeks work remote policy (no more than 2 consecutive weeks)

Kraft Heinz seeks an innovative leader to lead all aspects of R&D for our iconic Heinz, Classico, BBQ Sauce, and Tomato Product brands. You will lead a team of experts to drive new product development, process improvements, and technology adoption across North America.

Department: North America R&D – Ketchup, Condiments, and Sauces

Reports To: Head of Research and Development – Ketchup, Condiments, and Sauces

Team Size: 15 – 20

Key Responsibilities

• You will be an inspiring leader that tracks both consumer trends and technical innovations to push forward new ways of bringing products to market via process optimizations, new ingredient or equipment technologies, or creative extensions of current portfolio.
• You will be a strong leader, and cross-functional collaborator with other business teams and partners in the product development process, including category management, culinary, packaging, marketing, sales, and global business partners.
• You will lead multiple assignments/development projects concurrently to meet R&D timelines.
• You will engage with internal and external groups to establish relationships with internal teams, suppliers, key customer contacts, industry groups, and universities.
• You will develop the R&D strategic plan.
• You will build and co-own the R&D innovation pipeline.
• You will develop, mentor, and train R&D team members.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Have a wide depth of R&D and technical service experience in the tomato or tomato processing industry or business-related experience with sauces product development for consumer product industry and management of technical operations. The tomato R&D experience would be ideal but not absolutely necessary, as long as you are a strong innovator with a track record of success developing and commercializing innovative food and beverage products.
• Have at least 15 years of R&D experience, with a strong background in product development and a consistent track record of leading successful R&D teams.
• Have experience building and co-owning the R&D innovation pipeline.
• Have a strong understanding of ingredient functionality and the interrelationship of ingredients, processing, and packaging.
• Excel working with a diverse array of personnel, from product developers to global leadership.
• Willing and able to travel approximately 30% of the time for site visits and meetings with vendors.
• Ensure consistency and accountability for own and team’s results.
• Have a technical understanding of Ag and the ability to simplify the complex. This is ideal but not absolutely needed.
• Able to perform sedentary work: occasionally exerting 0-10 lbs. of force, limited movement from my workstation for brief periods of time.

Here at Kraft Heinz, we grow our people to grow our business, because we believe that great people make great companies. When you join our table, you can expect:

• Access to an array of holistic wellness benefits* and perks, including medical, dental and vision coverage.
• 7% 401(k) matching
• Business Resource Groups (BRGs) to help foster diversity, inclusion, and belonging for all employees.
• An industry-leading total rewards package that emphasizes a high discretionary bonus.

*Benefits begin 30 days after hire for hourly employees, and immediately upon hire for salaried employees.

Get a peek into life here at Kraft Heinz through our Instagram and TikTok channels!

About Kraft Heinz

Kraft Heinz is a global food company with a delicious heritage. With iconic and emerging food and beverage brands around the world, we deliver the best taste, fun and quality to every meal table we touch. We’re on a mission to disrupt not only our own business, but the global food industry. A consumer obsession and unexpected partnerships fuel our progress as we drive innovation across every part of our company.

Around the world, our people are connected by a culture of ownership, agility, and endless curiosity. We also believe in being good humans, who are working to improve our company, communities, and planet. We’re proud of where we’ve been – and even more thrilled about where we’re headed – as we nourish the world and lead the future of food.

Why Kraft Heinz

We grow our people to grow our business. We champion great people who bring ambition, curiosity, and high performance to the table as the guardians of our beloved and nostalgic brands. Good isn’t good enough. We choose greatness every day by challenging the ordinary and making bold decisions. All while celebrating our wins – and our failures – as we work together to lead the future of food.

Challenging the status quo takes talent. We invest in your purpose and potential by developing skills and nurturing strengths that leave a legacy on our business and a lasting impact on your career. Because great people make great companies, and we’re growing something great here at Kraft Heinz.

Office Collaboration & Hybrid Work Environment

We believe our office environment fuels our collaboration, connection & community as an organization and allows our employees to grow toward greatness. We also believe providing a more flexible and agile model is essential in today’s workplace. A majority of our office-based employees will be able to work remotely for up to two days each week. Additionally, employees who are subject to this hybrid model will be eligible to work from anywhere for up to six weeks in a rolling 12-month period (in maximum two-week increments and according to benefits and tax guidelines). Some jobs may be required to be performed fully in office depending on the role’s responsibilities and requirements.

For additional information please contact Owen Carryl at 972-265-5307 or ocarryl@kbic.com