R&D Manager, Soft-Ripened Cheese Development and Industrialization

Job overview

The R&D Manager, Soft-Ripened Cheese Development and Industrialization role is onsite in Lena, IL, with a stated salary range of $120,000–$135,000 per year. The role reports to the Associate Director for Cheese Product Development and Industrialization and supports projects across business segments and geographic locations. The role exists to lead cheese product development projects from ideation and bench work through industrialization, helping meet business objectives through technical leadership, project management, and cross-functional collaboration. The manager also mentors team members, works with customers, and supports product quality and commercialization.

What you'll do

• Lead technical development projects involving project management, ingredients, formulation, commercialization, and scale-up
• conduct cheese-plant work and full-scale line trials
• engage customers in project ideation
• identify challenges and recommend solutions
• mentor junior team members
• support business-segment innovation and customer meetings
• scope projects, assess risks, and contribute to planning and budgets
• train others in complex food-product formulations
• adhere to quality systems, plant rules, regulatory standards, and GMPs.

What we're looking for

Skills & competencies

r&d manager

soft-ripened cheese

lena il

kolb lena

product development

cheese industrialization

food science

formulation

project management

cross-functional leadership

15–20% travel

$120k–$135k/year

Work arrangement

• Weekend coverage required

Why this role

The role requires soft-ripened cheese expertise and includes 15–20% travel.

About the employer

Kolb Lena is hiring for this role. Industry: Mayonnaise, Dressing, and Other Prepared Sauce Manufacturing. Sector: 31.