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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