Director of Research Development

Job Description

Director of Research and Development

Food Manufacturing

London, Ontario

The Company:

Our client is a leading North American Food Manufacturer with several facilities across Canada and the USA. A leader in their category selling into Food Service, Retail and Wholesale channels nationally, they are seeking a Director of Research & Development / Product Development to lead a team of about 5 Product Developers spanning two Canadian facilities.

The Opportunity:

Reporting to a VP Research & Development this is great opportunity for someone who loves to lead processes and people. This is a key leadership role responsible for driving product innovation, quality improvement, and technical excellence while ensuring all new and existing products meet performance, cost, and quality standards.

With an 20+ year history of high quality food products, this role requires someone who combines scientific rigour with creativity with a Continuous Improvement approach. Looking for a passionate, results-driven, and hands‑on leader who combines scientific expertise with creativity and business acumen. The successful candidate will oversee all aspects of the R&D function—guiding product innovation from concept to commercialization, managing a high-performing technical team, and collaborating cross-functionally with operations, procurement, sales, and marketing.

Key Responsibilities & Job Duties:

• Lead, mentor, and develop the R&D team while fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and innovation.


• Oversee the development and commercialization of new bakery products and improvement of existing items.


• Stay current on consumer trends, technical advancements, and ingredient innovations within the food and bakery industry.


• Partner with Operations, Purchasing, and Marketing to execute product scale-up, ensure quality standards, and align with strategic business goals.


• Manage vendor approvals, sourcing of alternate ingredients, and Design‑to‑Value initiatives to optimize cost and efficiency.


• Serve as the technical liaison for customer and sales teams, providing solutions and ensuring successful project delivery.


• Identify and implement continuous improvement opportunities in product formulation, processing, and technology.


• Establish clear priorities, budgets, and performance metrics to support R&D and company‑wide objectives.

Qualifications & Competencies:

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, Chemistry, or a related discipline.


• 10–15 years of progressive experience in food product development, with at least 5 years in a leadership or management capacity.


• Proven track record of successful product launches from concept to commercialization.


• Strong understanding of bakery systems, ingredients, and production processes would be an asset.


• Excellent leadership, communication, and project management skills.


• Financial acumen and experience managing departmental budgets.


• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, SharePoint).


• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time.

This is an outstanding opportunity for a dynamic R&D leader to shape the future of a growing food manufacturer and contribute to developing the next generation of bakery products enjoyed across North America.