Director, Research and Development - Clyde's Donuts

Welcome to Clyde’s Donuts!

Over a century ago, the Bickford family took ownership of Clyde’s Delicious Donuts. Since 1920, our company has grown to become a beloved name, known for our innovative and high-quality donuts that delight taste buds of all ages. Today, Clyde’s is a thriving, high growth, 4^th generation family-owned food manufacturer and a leading national supplier of donuts to the largest global retailers in mass grocery, convenience stores, and food service. Our Company is financially strong with a consistent track record of stability and growth under the careful leadership of the Bickford family. We invite you to consider a career with our special company.

Summary of Position

Reporting to the Chief Operations Officer, the Director, Research and Development will shape the future of our product innovation strategy, drive cutting edge research, oversee new product development and improvement of existing products to ensure that our offerings meet/ exceed customer expectations and requirements. The Head of R&D will also play a crucial role in vertical integration and collaboration with other departments to achieve our business goals.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Develop and lead a high-performing R&D team of food scientists and technicians fostering a culture of collaboration, responsiveness, and innovation.
• Manage the new product development lifecycle, including ideation, prototyping, sensory evaluation, and scale-up executing projects on time and on budget. Create and commercialize new donut products innovating recipes, flavors, and formulations to expand our product portfolio.
• Manage product renovation incorporating voice of the customer and market trend to continuously improve and optimize existing products. Conduct regular product reviews and implement changes to formulations, processes, and packaging to improve product quality, shelf life, and cost efficiency.
• Collaborate with supply chain, production, and marketing teams to optimize production processes ensuring ensure scalability, cost optimization, quality, and product integrity.
• Support marketing and sales efforts through customer engagement and technical support to execute customer-centric R&D strategies.
• Collaborate with quality assurance and regulatory teams to stay current on food safety regulations implementing updates to processes and documentation as required.
• Collaborate with project management team to drive state gate process execution. Prepare detailed project plans, drive project progress to hit deliverables and update key stakeholders on project status, challenges, and successes.
• Monitor and enforce safe work standards and procedures. Maintain plant floor organization and good housekeeping.
• Monitor, enforce, and comply with food safety/ quality requirements and GMPs reporting issues to the Production Manager, Director of Food Safety or Director of Quality.

Desired Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in food science, food technology, chemistry, or a related field.
• Minimum of 6-10 years of R&D leadership experience in food product development, preferably in sweet baked goods or baking ingredients (icings, glazes, additives)
• Proven track record of successful product development and commercialization.
• In-depth knowledge of food safety regulations and quality assurance practices.
• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Excellent project management and organizational abilities.
• Exceptional problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.
• Preferred: Master’s degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Chemistry, or a related field.
• Preferred: Experience in bakery and/or donut product development.
• Preferred: Hands-on experience with scaling up recipes from bench-top to commercial production.
• Preferred: Proficiency in sensory evaluation techniques and consumer testing methodologies.

Desired Personal Traits

• A self-starter with a strong work ethic who operates with a sense of urgency.
• Upbeat, calm, and steady demeanor working with people in fast paced
• A passion for food. Enthusiastic about development, commercialization, and the customer experience.
• Principled, honest, ethical.
• Detail-oriented and highly organized.
• Collaborative with both the desire and ability to lead, train and mentor employees.

We Offer

Target compensation estimates are provided in good faith at the time of job posting. Job offers may vary based on the candidate’s education, certifications, job-related knowledge, skill, experience, geographic location, shift, and internal equity. Clyde’s may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future.

• Target base salary range: $175,000 to $200,000
• Position is eligible for Annual Bonus

Comprehensive Benefits

• Medical plan options including HMO, PPO and HDHP with H.S.A
• Dental Plan. Two plan options.
• Vision plan.
• Health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts.
• Short-term and long-term disability plans (Company paid).
• Group term life and AD&D insurance (Company Paid).
• Voluntary insurance plans Including life, AD&D, accident, and critical illness.
• Generous paid time off benefits and 7 holidays.
• 401(k) plan including 4% matching contribution and immediate vesting.
• Tuition reimbursement program.
• Various leaves of absence programs for life’s emergencies.
• Clean, modern, and safe facilities.
• Company-provided uniforms and an annual safety shoe subsidy.

Sponsorship Not Available

We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time. Applicants must have work authorization that does not now or in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the United States and with Clyde’s Donuts.

Work Environment and Job Physical Demands

These conditions are common to individuals working in the plant environment.

• Exposure to moving mechanical parts.
• Exposure to wet and/or humid conditions.
• Exposure to extreme hot conditions on such equipment as operating fryers and extreme cold conditions such as blast spiral freezers.
• Exposure to noise, dust, and fumes.
• Standing and walking on slippery floors.
• Working in close proximity to equipment and other employees.
• Lifting of up to 50 pounds and movement of equipment.

Clyde’s Donuts is proud to be an equal opportunity/ reasonable accommodation employer.