Director Process Development

Who We Are

At Freshpet, our goal is to change the way people nourish their pets forever.  We strive to strengthen the bond between people and our pets so that we both live longer, healthier, and happier lives while being kind to the planet. We believe that if we can create fresh, real foods that pets love and help them live healthier lives, that their pet parents will also enjoy the many benefits of a rich life shared with a pet.

We started off with a mission to change the way pet parents feed dogs and cats, but we also wanted to be a company that had a thoughtful approach to how we operate. We wanted to do things differently, make great products but be gentle to the planet, good to the people who touch our business, and leave a positive impact with everything we do. We work hard every day to ensure that the original vision is met, starting with making the highest quality foods in our kitchens to running our business with integrity, transparency, and social and environmental responsibility.  IT’S AMAZING WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN YOU START COMPLETELY FRESH!

What You Will Do

We seek a hands-on, results-driven, entrepreneurial, creative innovative leader with experience in the food and beverage space, preferably with refrigerated RTE products. They will have a passion for process improvement and a track record of success. The candidate should be comfortable working across the organization at all levels to contribute to overall team success. 

How You Will Make an Impact

The Director Process Development will be leading the process improvement initiative from a technical perspective with a focus on delighting our consumers (pets and pet parents) to a greater level and further enhancing our competitive position in the market.

They will provide enhancements to our overall process through: 

• Assessment and enhancement of current manufacturing process, methods, instrumentation, and controls
• Provide a road map and execution expertise to better leverage data and information as it relates to process performance and enhanced product quality including the use of AI
• Provide tools, training direction and interfaces to improve team member engagement and process knowledge
• Work with quality team to reduce food safety risk through the introduction of new technology
• Investigate and implement improvements that enhance team member work experience and contribute to our overall corporate sustainability goals
• Work with 3^rd party manufacturers to enhance product quality though implementable process improvements

What You Will Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or science related area. Master’s degree preferred
• Minimum 5 years’ experience as a process and/or quality engineer
• Demonstrated success in leading/managing a team of engineers/scientists
• Experience in a quality and/or R&D organization preferred
• Demonstrated ability to work with external research entities and equipment / instrumentation / software suppliers to introduce new technologies to the organization
• Desire to investigate and assess new technologies or new applications of existing technologies
• Creative problem solving
• Strong analytical skills, understands value of data/information
• Demonstrated ability to lead a structured problem-solving effort
• Knowledge of best hygienic and GMP practices
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Unquestioned honesty and integrity
• Holds self and others accountable
• A positive, hands-on doer; leads by example
• An ego-less consensus builder.  Thick skinned, strong willed, and tenacious, but not overbearing or divisive; ability to push back diplomatically yet firmly or hold onto and defend positions
• A passion for Freshpet’s values and mission
• Passion for team success

What We Offer

At Freshpet, we offer a competitive salary and an excellent benefits package,  including medical, dental and vision insurance, basic and optional life insurance, short-and long-term disability protection, flexible spending accounts, and a 401(k) plan with company match, paid parental leave, pet insurance, tuition assistance, a generous PTO plan and so much more!

Our Commitment to a Diverse Workforce:

At Freshpet, we embrace and encourage our employees’ differences in age, sex, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics that make our employees unique. 

Freshpet aims to foster, cultivate and preserve a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion. Our employees are our most valuable assets. The collective sum of the individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, inventiveness, innovation, self-expression, unique capabilities and talent that our employees invest in their work represents a significant part of not only our culture, but our reputation and company’s achievement as well. Freshpet is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  

Disclaimers

We are interested in every qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States. However, we are not able to sponsor visas.

Freshpet is not accepting unsolicited assistance from search firms for this employment opportunity. Please, no phone calls or emails. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at Freshpet via-email, the Internet or in any form and/or method without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of Freshpet. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Freshpet as a result of the referral or through other means.