Senior Lead, Product Development & Commercialization

Joining King’s Hawaiian makes you part of our `ohana (family). We are a family-owned business for over seventy years, respecting our roots while thinking about our future as we continue to grow and care for our customers and the communities we serve. Our `ohana members build an environment of inclusivity as they freely collaborate, pursue learning through curiosity, and explore innovation as critical thinkers. Beyond that, we are also passionate about supporting the long-term health and well-being of our employees and their families. If you’re excited to rise with our team, come and join our `ohana!

Working under general supervision of the Head of Innovation, the Senior Lead, Product Development & Commercialization, is an idealist, researcher, designer, and builder. This role creates new products, and ideates, develops, tests, and collaborates with others to introduce new, irresistible products for King’s consumers to love and share. The Senior Lead, Product Development & Commercialization, will be a part of a multi-disciplinary Innovation & Commercialization team with a start-up type culture. The role will team up with experienced chefs creating new products and recipes for commercialization, and work with Process and Packaging Engineers, Marketing Insights, and Production to produce these new products. Employees in this position may interact with their leader several times a week to receive guidance and feedback. Some non-routine activities may require a supervisor’s advance approval, but routine decisions within the general scope of the role may be made independently.

Essential Job Duties And Responsibilities

• Manage numerous projects simultaneously.
• Assist in pipeline prioritization and technical assessment of future innovation projects & ideas.
• Manage scale up trials of products and work closely with Production leaders to train on process.
• Collaborate with Concept Developer Chefs, Marketing, Innovation Insights, R&D Process Engineers, Operations, Procurement, and Packaging Engineers in the Innovation product development process.
• Creatively solve technical problems in a rapid, efficient manner.
• Develop specifications for all raw materials, process controls, and finished goods.
• Perform other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of this role.
• Develop and maintain FDA and USDA food product labeling that complies with regulatory requirements and/or customer requirements. Produce product specification sheets.
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting of product development activities to key stakeholders.
• Test and ensure food concepts are shelf stable and food safe. Work with 3rd party labs to test and analyze products.
• Deliver accurate product trial details and collaborate with the Innovation Project Lead to guarantee accurate and on-time set up of factory trials.
• Work closely with King’s ingredient and packaging suppliers on the technical characteristics of King’s materials and troubleshoot ingredient performance.
• Participate in the identification, design, development, creation, and testing of product prototypes.
• Collaborate and team up with third party manufacturing facilities to scale up and test products for commercialization.
• Develop rapid prototypes to explore with consumers in real purchase and consumption environments.
• Collaborate with chefs and third parties to create recipes with the ability to scale up for both limited introductions as well as national product launches.

Basic Qualification (education And/Or Experience)

• 15+ years of progressively responsible experience in R&D and new product development
• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Chemistry, Biology, or Culinary Arts from an accredited 4-year college or equivalent relevant experience required. Higher education (e.g., Master’s of Science or PhD) in Food Science, Food Technology, Chemistry, Biology, or Culinary Arts preferred.
• Extensive knowledge and experience in cereal sciences (10+ years)

Physcial Requirements

• Ability to lift 50 lbs
• Ability to stand 2-3 hours

Additional Qualification (job Skills, Abilities, Knowledge)

• Expert understanding of the process and methods for developing and commercializing shelf-stable foods.
• Proficient ability to work with culinary or corporate chefs.
• Expert ability to muti-task and contribute to many projects at the same time.
• Ability to seek and be open to new experiences with different food from other cultures and enjoy foods in a different way. Does not settle with mediocre products.
• Working understanding of different methods of packaging (retort, aseptic, UHT, Hot/Cold Pasteurization, MAP)
• Ability to travel up to 10%.
• Working understanding of Project management – plan, coordinate, communicate progress and challenges, execute project activities.
• Ability to consistently demonstrate King’s values of excellence, dignity, saying it like it is in a way it can be heard; and curiosity, collaboration, critical thinking and emotional intelligence.
• Expert knowledge and understanding of cereal science.
• Proficient ability to work with third party manufacturers (co-manufacturers, co-packers) in developing products.
• Expert understanding of extensive areas of food science and technology and experimental procedures
• Expert understanding of physical properties and chemical composition of food and ingredients.

Compensation Annual Salary Range: $143,000-$228,800

King's Hawaiian is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for our ohana.