About Our Client:
Our client is a well-known player in the consumer goods sector.
Position Scope:
The R&D Director is a hands-on technical leader responsible for driving innovation and executional excellence within the co-manufacturing environment. This role leads the R&D team in transforming product concepts into plant-ready formulations, optimizing existing products, and providing technical support to manufacturing operations with a steady leadership presence. By fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement, the R&D Director will enhance customer satisfaction, drive innovation, and spearhead a disciplined yet flexible approach to product development.
Responsibilities:
- Act as a technical advisor to internal teams and external partners, offering expert guidance on existing and emerging food technologies and trends.
- Lead, mentor, and develop a team of food scientists and technicians, guiding them in making both technical and leadership decisions to meet their development objectives.
- Provide calm, decisive leadership during periods of ambiguity, product launches and competing priorities.
- Active member of Commercialization process, including participating and leading product trial, launches or scoping. Executing project milestones, providing documentation and support on the line as required.
- Support ingredient management, documentation and escalations.
- Stay well-informed of industry trends, driving studies and projects to apply new learnings to existing and future products.
- Identify and evaluate alternative ingredients and process improvements that optimize product cost and maintain high-quality standards.
- Ensure all formulations, specifications, and procedures are current and align with production practices.
- Foster a culture of continuous improvement within the R&D team, consistently seeking ways to enhance both product quality and team performance.
- Promote the company’s health and safety program, maintain a safe working environment and ensure continued compliance with the Occupational Health & Safety Act.
- Support cross-functional initiatives as needed, contributing to the overall success of the organization.
Education & Qualifications:
- 10+ years of demonstrated leadership experience in Research & Development, preferably within the food industry.
- A degree or diploma in Food Science or a related field is required.
- Proven experience in manufacturing, quality assurance, or other technical functions is an asset.
- Experience in pastry or bakery is strongly preferred.
Skills & Abilities:
- Demonstrated technical depth with the ability to make and explain clear decisions under pressure.
- Strong people leadership skills including coaching, conflict management and continuous improvement within the R&D function.
- Highly collaborative with the ability to work with and lead diverse teams.
- Ability to maintain a calm, focused and solutions-oriented presence, especially during plant trials, escalations and tight timelines.
- Resourceful, adaptable and flexible; comfortable with taking a hands-on approach when necessary.
- Excellent planning, organizational and time-management abilities; capable of strategic thinking without losing attention to detail.
- Demonstrates an active, collaborative mindset, building strong relationships with both internal teams and external stakeholders.
- Familiarity with food manufacturing environments, particularly those with HACCP regulations.
- Exceptional verbal and written communication skills with the ability to create documentation, reports and deliver presentations.
- Strong ability to multitask, prioritize and evaluate laboratory test results to form informed decisions.
Health & Safety:
- Conduct all Job Tasks in a Safe and Responsible manner and ensure the team is doing the same.
- Participate in all Health and Safety, GMP and HACCP training as required.
- Report any accidents, incidents and unsafe/hazardous conditions to the manager.
- Report any damages of property and machinery to the manager.
- Ensure appropriate use of the Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE) that is located in the work area.
- Ensure compliance with OHSA, WSIB, MOL regulations and/or laws that govern “workers” responsibilities in the workplace (covered during orientation – section 28 of the OHSA i.e. “Green Book”) and comply with Company Safety Rules and Good Manufacturing Practices, and HACCP Programs.
Application Instructions:
To apply, please send a resume to Amanda Graham at amanda.graham@summitsearchgroup.com
This is a replacement role. Our client may use AI assisted tools during the search process.
Summit Search Group is a fair and equitable search firm. We welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the recruitment and selection process.
Amanda Graham
Job ID
City
- Toronto, ON
Remuneration
$130-150k base + bonus
Amanda Graham
Job ID
City
- Toronto, ON
Remuneration
$130-150k base + bonus 