Research and Development Manager

We offer HEALTH & DENTAL BENEFITS DAY 1 OF HIRE!  Blommer understands that our employees are our biggest assets. With this in mind we offer a generous benefits package, tuition reimbursement, and 10 pounds of free chocolate for your birthday! 

Blommer has been providing delicious, high quality chocolate and cocoa products to customers since 1939.  Built as a family business, we are continuing to grow and are looking for motivated and reliable associates to help in our mission of Bringing Chocolate to Life! 

JOB SUMMARY:

The R&D Product Development (PD) Manager is a subject matter expert in the field of chocolate, chocolate process and applications focused on assessing, developing and implementing new product concepts, proprietary blends and process technologies for the cocoa and chocolate markets. The primary responsibility of this position is strategically focused to secure new business by partnering with Sales to align/create Blommer capabilities to meet customer specification. Additionally, the R&D PD Manager role is to develop R&D individuals on staff; plus establish, foster, and monitor performance expectations; define key performance goals, evaluate and provide feedback, set an example of company core values and ensure staff works in an efficient and safe manner. This role promotes, aligns, and leads site teams to drive technical service support for external and internal stakeholders. The R&D PD Manager strategically leverages internal stakeholder partnerships, comprehends complex problems and presents prioritized solutions, leads full commercialization scope of products, and helps customers in successful application of our products.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Participate in stage gate approval review process of new opportunities, determine feasibility of running new products or ingredients in production and run line trials to successfully commercialize new products that meet customer expectations
• Manage technical customer support and R&D relationship development through on-site troubleshooting, technical training and presenting creative solutions
• Maintain effective communication internally and externally on the status of new products, ongoing activities, upcoming projects, trial runs, sample generation, research results and other pertinent information. Inform Sales and internal staff regarding any problems being incurred by customers and resulting action plan
• Establish and monitor performance expectations for R&D staff by defining key performance goals, evaluating performance and providing feedback. When applicable, manage interviewing, hiring and training for departmental staff
• Manage site product development activities. Aligns team resources and priorities associated with key initiatives and reports on product development monthly metrics.
• Manage planning, implementation, and execution of process changes and project activity at site associated with targeted key accounts to support sales growth and key productivity initiatives. Collaborate with site internal stakeholders including, but not limited to, Quality and Operations for problem solving internal processing issues and technical challenges
• Develop and measure appropriate physical parameters of product based on customer needs and submit sample to customer. Develop and issue formula and nutritional to costing for pricing; evaluate current product formulations for optimal usage of raw ingredients; consider potential reformulations of ingredients and/or ingredient substitutions
• Maintain database system of R&D products, projects, open work requests that can be accessed by R&D Senior Management to understand scope of work activities.
• Maintain site product portfolio book and work with cross functional teams to perform routine rationalization and gap analysis
• Participate in daily taste panels and conducting customer & visitor tours
• Maintain awareness of current trends, literature in the cocoa/chocolate market

Note: The employer reserves the right to change or assign other duties to this position

SKILLS / REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science or comparable field
• Five plus years’ experience in R&D food manufacturing operations
• Three to five plus years’ experience managing a team
• General experience with kitchen and confection equipment
• Must be able to taste and consume chocolate and related products
• Excellent communication skills, written and verbal
• Proficient in Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Teams), CMR program

Blommer Chocolate Company provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.