Director of Research and Development - Seattle - CuliNEX - Your Food Innovation Partner

Description

FUTURE DIFFERENCE MAKERS WANTED

Check you match the skill requirements for this role, as well as associated experience, then apply with your CV below.

CuliNEX is a clean label food and beverage development company that is dedicated to nourishing a brighter future through food innovation. We continue to grow and are looking for passionate food professionals to join our team.

If you are ready to shape the future of clean label innovation and lead a world-class product development and menu development team, let's start the conversation

Our Company

Since 2005, CuliNEX has been the industry's premier consulting firm providing product development & strategic innovation services focused on clean label food products and menu items. We strive to exceed our client's business goals by developing delicious, clean label foods that create a better planet, healthier people, and happier communities. We are now part of the JPG Resources family of companies.

What We Do

We're passionate about creating great tasting, wholesome food. We specialize in assisting brand owners, food manufacturers, food service brands, ingredient suppliers and retailers with achieving their growth goals by bringing successful products to market. Our expertise covers a wide variety of food product categories including frozen, refrigerated and shelf stable products, seafood, bakery goods, soups and sauces, dairy products, grains, produce and menu development.

Job Summary and Mission:

The Director of Research and Development is a senior technical authority at CuliNEX, responsible for defining the R&D strategy and driving the scientific direction of the organization. Reporting to the Managing Director, you will oversee the implementation and execution of consulting services that deliver delicious and innovative clean label foods. This role is designed for a great people manager who thrives on complex problem-solving, driving technical conversations, and is excited to grow and mentor a team of food scientists and chefs.

Summary of Key Responsibilities:

Technical Strategy & Innovation

• Define the R&D processes and oversee the program of innovation efforts for the organization, ensuring CuliNEX remains at the forefront of food science and clean label technology.
• Lead complex technical projects, specifically focusing on the optimization of flavor and texture systems, product quality troubleshooting, and science-driven cost optimizations.
• Assess technical fit for incoming high-stakes projects, recommending specific scientific resources and strategic approaches to ensure successful commercialization.
• Act as technical advisor with external clients, providing consultation and representing CuliNEX through presentations and thought leadership.
• Partner with Sales team to realistically scope and technically audit new business opportunities.

Culinary Artistry & Scientific Rigor

• Champion the "Gold Standard" process, ensuring that every product developed maintains the highest level of culinary integrity while meeting rigorous commercial requirements.
• Cultivate a collaborative culture that bridges the gap between culinary artistry and food science, leading teams composed of professional research chefs, culinologists, and food scientists to create delicious, chef-inspired food at scale.
• Expand your professional impact by leading a diverse portfolio of projects in parallel, ranging from disruptive startups to global CPG giants.

Team Leadership & Mentorship

• Provide ultimate oversight on project timelines and deliverables, ensuring culinary and technical excellence is maintained.
• Mentor and grow the R&D team's bench strength, fostering an environment of continuous learning and scientific rigor.
• Help your team boost their efficiency by applying best practices for test kitchen management, documentation, and project management. 
• Manage team workloads, ensuring the right expertise and resources are applied to every client project. 
• Foster an environment where culinary creativity is fueled by scientific discovery, encouraging the team to explore new ingredients and techniques that elevate the eating experience.

Education and Experience

• BS, MS or PhD in Food Science, Culinology or a related field
• Minimum 12 years of food product development experience, with at least 5 years in a technical leadership role.
• Proven track record of navigating diverse food categories, including frozen, shelf-stable, and fresh-prepared systems.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Deep Ingredient Functionality: Expert-level knowledge of ingredient interactions, clean-label formulation, and the science of flavor/texture delivery.
• Manufacturing Excellence: Experience leading large-scale manufacturing plant trials and successfully scaling bench-top prototypes to commercial production.
• Regulatory & Compliance Savvy: Proficiency in product labeling, software tools such as Genesis, navigating health claims, and managing complex certifications (Organic, Non-GMO, etc.).
• Culinary & Science Integration: A genuine passion for the culinary arts with a proven ability to direct teams where chefs and scientists collaborate to achieve gold-standard targets.
• Strategic Communication: Ability to translate complex scientific concepts into actionable business insights for clients and stakeholders at the executive level.

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $120,000–$150,000 annually. Placement within the range will be based on factors including experience, qualifications, skills, and internal equity considerations. JPG Resources offers paid time off, paid holidays, a flexible work schedule, and retirement benefits. xhmxlyz While this position does not include employer-sponsored health insurance, additional health-related benefits and other employee programs are available.