R&D Manager – Prepared Foods & Co-Manufacturing

Wolcott, IN

Who are we?

As a leader in modern nutrition, Egglife Foods is reimagining the future of food by harnessing the power of eggs to transform traditionally flour-based products. Our company, recently landed on the Inc 5000 list of Fastest Growing Private Companies and currently poised to be the next big category disruptor in the CPG industry, hatched its debut product - egglife® egg white wraps in 2020. Created by a desire to champion wellness without sacrificing taste, they are made using a patented technology that converts liquid egg to solid matter, resulting in a protein-packed, low-carb tortilla-style wrap. Unlike the competition, egglife is the only wrap to deliver a trifecta of what consumers are looking for in a better-for-you wrap; taste, versatility and nutrition… or what we like to refer to as The Perfect Wrap®. egglife wraps are available in six varieties – original, southwest, everything bagel, Italian, sweet cinnamon, and our new garden salsa flavor. All of our wraps are cleverly crafted at our very own manufacturing facility in Wolcott, Indiana.

Egglife Foods is experiencing tremendous growth and success. After 4 years in market, we’re experiencing results that are nothing short of amazing including:

#1 Fastest Growing Healthy Wrap Brand
#1 Category Share of Healthy Refrigerated Wraps
#1 Incremental Item to Dairy Category
Rocket ship growth from 381 to 15,000 locations and 22X growth in ACV in 4+ years!
2020 Gold Stevie Award Winner for Best New Product
2021 NOSH Best New Product Award Finalist
2021 Progressive Grocer Editor’s Pick Award
2021 CNBC Best of Small Business Award Winner
2022 Instacart Fastest Growing Emerging Brand (#14)
2022 Chicago Innovation Awards Top 100 Finalist
2023 Good Housekeeping Best Snack Awards Winner – Protein Packed Category
2023 Chicago Innovation Awards Top 100 Finalist
2023 Instacart Fastest Growing Emerging Brand (#72)
2024 Good Housekeeping Best Snack Awards Winner – Protein Packed Category
2024 Inc 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies (top 12%)

To learn more visit us at www.egglifefoods.com.

Summary

As the brand is growing, so is our team! Egglife Foods is looking for a talented Manager to join our Research & Development team, reporting to the Vice President Research & Development and working closely with our Innovation & Operations teams, playing a crucial role in our product development lifecycle. This position will lead cross-functional teams of both internal and external partners, in creating new products and optimizing existing ones, from concept to commercialization.

Who are you?

A natural leader able to plan & manage complex projects while working with simplicity, urgency and agility
A roll-up-your-sleeves type of person with a can-do attitude who embraces challenge & enjoys solving problems
A critical thinker with a strong fundamental understanding of food safety, food chemistry and food manufacturing
A naturally curious type of person who is not afraid to ask questions and is always open to learn from others & help others grow
Someone with a passion for science that embraces disruptive ideas and has the ability to operate in ambiguous environments
A very organized person who pays meticulous attention to detail
A friendly team-oriented individual with a strong sense of integrity who can develop solid relationships with internal and external partners
A foodie, passionate for clean label food who embraces optimism with a personal commitment to health & wellness
Someone who takes pride in the job and is eager to help shape our growing company

Essential job functions

Working with guidance and support from the Vice President, R&D but with expected autonomy you will:

Spearhead the development of innovative prepared food products, aligning with market trends and company strategies
Lead and participate in cross-functional teams to develop new products and processes from bench scale to pilot scale, through to full commercialization
Collaborate closely with Marketing, Innovation, Operations, and Quality Assurance teams to ensure product alignment with brand vision and operational capabilities
Drive continuous improvement and optimization initiatives for current products and production lines
Manage co-manufacturing relationships, ensuring product quality and consistency across external manufacturing partners
Oversee sensory evaluation and consumer testing processes to validate product concepts and improvements
Stay abreast of food industry trends, new technologies, and regulatory requirements to inform R&D strategies
Support the development of company IP strategy
Support building and strengthening the R&D team from both technical and soft skills including identifications of appropriate learning programs for the team and self in line with business needs and opportunities
Think critically, balance multiple tasks, and be flexible wearing whatever hat is needed to support cross-functional teams and help meet company goals
Contribute to our knowledge base, thought leadership, and company culture through your unique character and skills

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Chemical/Biological Systems Engineering or related field; advanced degree preferred
5+ years of experience in food product development, with a focus on prepared foods
Experience in egg and/or protein-rich food product manufacturing, laboratory, and pilot plant settings
Experience in food product & process development, innovation, and project management
Proven track record of successfully commercializing new food products
Strong understanding of food manufacturing processes, particularly in prepared foods
Experience with co-manufacturing partnerships and processes
Excellent project management and cross-functional team leadership skills
Creative problem-solving abilities and a passion for food innovation
Knowledge of food safety regulations and quality assurance practices
Capable to translate the scientific/technical knowledge into profitable business opportunities
Consumer centric and solution-oriented mindset
Ability to communicate effectively at all levels of the organization
Highly collaborative with the ability to lead through influence
Self-starter and intellectually curious. Comfortable with ambiguity
Experience working in small and large companies preferred
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite

Egglife Foods is an equal employment opportunity employer. The company's policy is not to discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identify, religion, national origin, age, disability, military status, or any other basis protected by law.

Egglife Foods, Inc.

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R&D Manager – Prepared Foods & Co-Manufacturing