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Director Food Product Development Innovation Jobs

Utz Brands, Inc.

Director, R&D Innovation

Hanover, PA · On-site

Director, R&D Innovation The Director, R&D Innovation is responsible for leading the product ... Experience * 10-15 years of product development experience in the food and beverage industry ...

Sodexo

Director, Product Development (Food)

Cleveland, OH · On-site

$115K - $140K/yr

Sodexo is seeking System Culinary Director to lead culinary excellence across University Hospitals ... Drive culinary innovation by leading new recipe and product development across multiple food brands.

Sodexo

Director, Product Development (Food)

Cleveland, OH · On-site

$125 - $150/hr

Sodexo is seeking System Culinary Director to lead culinary excellence across University Hospitals ... Drive culinary innovation by leading new recipe and product development across multiple food brands.

Socket.dev

Director of Product Development

Henderson, NV · On-site

$150 - $200/hr

Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry, Chemistry, Food Science, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nutrition ... Innovation and Continuous Improvement * Identify emerging ingredients, technologies, delivery ...

Socket.dev

Director of Product Development

Appleton, WI · On-site

$150 - $200/hr

Lead the Company's technology roadmap, innovation programs, and product development initiatives to ... Director of Product Development Competencies * Demonstrated technical acumen in product development ...

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How much do director food product development innovation jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for director food product development innovation in the United States is $163,684.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $131,500.00 and $185,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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Director, R&D Innovation

Hanover, PA • On-site

Utz Brands, Inc.
Food and Drink Manufacturing • 1 - 5K employees
Learn more about Utz Brands, Inc.external

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Re-posted 21 hours ago

Key responsibilities

  • Leads select product development projects from concept through commercialization.

  • Collaborates with cross-functional departments and external partners to support innovation initiatives.

  • Manages a team of product developers to execute project objectives in a timely and professional manner.

Utz Quality Foods rating

6.8

Company rating: 6.8 out of 10

Based on 19 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

242nd of 445 rated food and drinks producers

Job description

At Utz Brands, we're on a mission to create the next generation of snacks consumers crave. With more than 100 years of heritage and a growing portfolio of iconic brands-including Utz®, Zapp's®, Boulder Canyon®, and On The Border®-we are redefining what innovation looks like in the snacking industry.
We're looking for an exceptional Director, R&D Innovation to lead breakthrough product development initiatives that will fuel the future growth of our business. This is a highly visible leadership role where you'll combine science, creativity, and strategic thinking to bring exciting new products from concept to commercialization.
The Opportunity: Director, R&D Innovation
The Director, R&D Innovation is responsible for leading the product development innovation agenda for Utz Brands products. This role partners with the brand business team's innovation lead, manages a team of product developers, and leads select product development projects from concept through commercialization. The Director establishes and applies a scientifically sound, efficient approach to innovation; collaborates cross-functionally with Procurement, Manufacturing, Regulatory, Packaging, Value Creation, and other R&D groups; and builds external relationships with ingredient suppliers, processing equipment suppliers, universities, and other technology providers to support business objectives and advance innovation initiatives.
What You'll Do:
  • Manages direct reports to execute against project objectives in a timely and professional manner.
  • Partners with the Brand innovation leader to generate ideas and advance approved projects.
  • Works closely with cross-functional departments such as Procurement and Manufacturing.
  • Establishes a scientifically robust yet nimble approach to product development.
  • Effectively prioritizes and allocates resources, both human and financial, against initiatives.
  • Develops and implements best practices to enable effective innovation development.
  • Owns and leads select projects and initiatives.
  • Collaborates with other R&D groups such as Value Creation, Regulatory, and Packaging to accomplish objectives and manage the R&D site.
  • Establishes working relationships with ingredient suppliers, processing equipment suppliers, universities, and other technology providers to leverage resources, generate ideas, and advance initiatives.
  • Performs other duties as assigned that support the overall outcome of company and department objectives.

What You Bring:
Education
  • Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, or a related field required.

Experience
  • 10-15 years of product development experience in the food and beverage industry, preferably salty snacks.
  • Proven track record of developing innovative products from concept through lab/pilot scale to manufacturing.
  • Knowledge of seasonings, extrusion, frying, and/or baking applications preferred.

Skills
  • Demonstrated leadership and team-building competencies.
  • Ability to think critically and exercise complex problem-solving skills while simplifying information to drive decisions.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Self-directed and forward-thinking, with the ability to make complex decisions that drive business innovation and performance.
  • Comfortable presenting recommendations and findings to management and cross-functional teams.
  • Excellent time and project management skills, with a proven ability to manage and prioritize multiple, concurrent projects.

External Recruitment Process:
  • Easy Application (5 mins): Introduce yourself and answer a few key questions to get started.
  • Engaging Chat Interview (20-25 mins): Share your experiences in an online chat, highlighting how your values align with ours.
  • Live Interview: Selected candidates will meet with the hiring manager to explore their alignment with the team and overall Utz company culture.

Why Utz?
We believe in taking care of our people. Our benefits include:
  • Medical, dental, and vision plans
  • Employer-matched 401(k)
  • Profit sharing, bonus plan, employee stock purchase plans
  • Career growth opportunities in a supportive, inclusive environment

Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

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