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Food Research Development Jobs in Utah (NOW HIRING)

Under the direction of the Director of Research & Development the R&D Chef will execute daily tasks ... Utah Food Handlers Permit will be needed and we can help with the process if you don't have a UT ...

Under the direction of the Director of Research & Development the R&D Chef will execute daily tasks ... Utah Food Handlers Permit will be needed and we can help with the process if you don't have a UT ...

Under the direction of the Director of Research & Development the R&D Chef will execute daily tasks ... Utah Food Handlers Permit will be needed and we can help with the process if you don't have a UT ...

Relevant industry experience R&D, and commercialization of food or dairy products and ingredients ... Travel requirement is up to 25%. * The ideal candidate will possess advanced skills in ...

Director of R&D

Logan, UT

$100K - $125K/yr

Bachelors degree in microbiology, Biotechnology, food science, biology, or a related field, plus 23 years of relevant experience. * Relevant industry experience R&D, and commercialization of food or ...

Director of R&D

Logan, UT · On-site

$100K - $125K/yr

Bachelor's degree in microbiology, Biotechnology, food science, biology, or a related field, plus 2-3 years of relevant experience. * Relevant industry experience R&D, and commercialization of food ...

Director of R&D

Logan, UT

$100K - $125K/yr

Bachelor's degree in microbiology, Biotechnology, food science, biology, or a related field, plus 2-3 years of relevant experience. * Relevant industry experience R&D, and commercialization of food ...

Bachelor's degree in microbiology, Biotechnology, food science, biology, or a related field, plus 2-3 years of relevant experience. * Relevant industry experience R&D, and commercialization of food ...

JOB PURPOSE: Alphia, one of the nation's leading custom pet food manufacturing companies, is looking for a skilled R&D Scientist. The R&D Scientist is responsible for managing research and ...

JOB PURPOSE: Alphia, one of the nation's leading custom pet food manufacturing companies, is looking for a skilled R&D Scientist. The R&D Scientist is responsible for managing research and ...

The Food Scientist is responsible for managing research and development projects involving new product and process development, production trials, least-cost formulation, product/process improvement ...

The Food Scientist is responsible for managing research and development projects involving new product and process development, production trials, least-cost formulation, product/process improvement ...

R&D Assistant Chef supports the development, testing, production, and presentation of innovative ... Assists the Food Styling team as needed. * Ability to understand recipe development, detect and ...

R&D Assistant Chef supports the development, testing, production, and presentation of innovative ... Assists the Food Styling team as needed. * Ability to understand recipe development, detect and ...

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Food Research Development information

What are the typical responsibilities of someone working in Food Research Development?

Professionals in Food Research Development are responsible for creating and testing new food products, improving existing formulas, and ensuring quality and safety standards are met throughout the development process. Daily tasks often include conducting laboratory experiments, analyzing sensory and nutritional data, documenting findings, and collaborating with cross-functional teams such as marketing, quality assurance, and production. You'll also participate in pilot plant trials and may engage directly with suppliers or regulatory agencies. This role is highly collaborative and requires both independent research and teamwork to bring innovative food products to market.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Food Research Development position, and why are they important?

To thrive in Food Research Development, a strong background in food science, chemistry, or related fields—often supported by a relevant degree—is essential. Experience with laboratory research tools, food safety standards, analytical software, and potentially HACCP certification is highly valued. Creativity, attention to detail, and effective teamwork set exceptional candidates apart. These skills and qualifications are crucial for developing innovative, safe, and market-ready food products in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.

What is a Food Research Development job?

A Food Research Development job focuses on creating, improving, and testing food products to enhance quality, taste, safety, and shelf life. Professionals in this field work with ingredients, formulations, and processing techniques to develop new recipes or refine existing ones. They collaborate with food scientists, nutritionists, and production teams to ensure products meet consumer expectations and regulatory standards. Additionally, they may research market trends and evaluate new technologies to drive innovation in the food industry.

What are the most commonly searched types of Food Research Development jobs in Utah? The most popular types of Food Research Development jobs in Utah are:
What are popular job titles related to Food Research Development jobs in Utah? For Food Research Development jobs in Utah, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Food Research Development jobs in Utah look for? The top searched job categories for Food Research Development jobs in Utah are:
What cities in Utah are hiring for Food Research Development jobs? Cities in Utah with the most Food Research Development job openings:
Infographic showing various Food Research Development job openings in Utah as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 81% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution.

Research & Development Manager

Thrive Foods

American Fork, UT • On-site

Full-time

Posted 14 days ago


Job description

Job Title: Research and Development Manager

Department: Quality

Reports to: Vice President of Quality

Location: American Fork, Utah

Position Summary

The Research & Development (R&D) Manager is responsible for leading innovation, product development, process optimization, and technical commercialization for Thrive Freeze Dry’s portfolio of human and pet food products. This role partners closely with Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, Sales, and Customers to deliver safe, high-quality, and scalable freeze-dried ingredients and finished goods. The R&D Manager ensures that all new products, reformulations, and process improvements align with Thrive’s strategic goals, meet customer expectations, and comply with regulatory and certification standards across our North American manufacturing network.

Product Innovation & Development
  • Lead the design, development, and testing of new freeze-dried ingredients, meals, snacks, and formulations for human and pet applications.
  • Translate customer needs, market trends, and internal strategy into actionable R&D roadmaps and prototypes.
  • Manage bench-top trials, pilot tests, and plant-scale validations to ensure product performance, stability, and manufacturability.
  • Maintain responsibility for ingredient functionality, sensory attributes, nutritional profiles, and shelf-life performance.
  • Other duties as assigned
Commercialization & Process Optimization
  • Partner with Operations, Engineering, and Quality to define processing parameters for new and existing products.
  • Lead commercialization efforts from concept through first production, ensuring a smooth transition to full-scale manufacturing.
  • Identify opportunities to improve yield, reduce waste, enhance throughput, and optimize cost without compromising product quality.
  • Support continuous improvement initiatives across the freeze-drying process, blending, packaging, and handling systems.
Regulatory, Compliance & Documentation
  • Ensure all R&D activities align with FSMA, HACCP, FDA, USDA, Organic, Non-GMO, Kosher, SMETA, and customer-specific requirements.
  • Collaborate with the Quality team to verify that product specifications, formulations, processing instructions, and change controls are accurate and compliant.
  • Create and maintain R&D documentation, including formulas, spec sheets, SOPs, work instructions, and experimental summaries.
  • Support customer audits, technical reviews, and documentation requests related to new or existing products.
Cross-Functional Leadership & Project Management
  • Manage R&D teams across Thrive Freeze Dry’s North American network.
  • Manage multiple concurrent R&D projects across categories, customers, and manufacturing sites.
  • Facilitate communication between Production, Supply Chain, Quality, Engineering, and Sales to ensure alignment and efficient execution.
  • Provide technical leadership to plant teams during scale-ups, troubleshooting, and process validations.
  • Represent R&D during customer visits, technical presentations, and collaborative development sessions.
Qualifications & Experience
  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, Chemistry, Nutrition, or related field.
  • 5+ years of experience in the food industry, including pet food and/or functional ingredients; experience in both areas and within a freeze-drying environment preferred.
  • Minimum of 5 years’ experience leading, managing, and developing a team.
  • Strong technical understanding of freeze-drying process parameters, product formulation, ingredient interactions, and analytical testing methods.
  • Experience managing technical projects from ideation to commercialization.
  • Ability to interpret regulatory requirements and apply them to product design and documentation.
  • Excellent communication, cross-functional collaboration, and organizational skills.
  • Ability to travel between manufacturing sites and customer locations as needed, including international, 25%-50%.

Physical Requirements – Must be able to perform the following functions with or without accommodations:

  • Consistent and reliable attendance
  • Physical demands: some lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling; some stooping, kneeling, crouching; and frequent fine finger dexterity. Generally, the job requires the following percentages of time committed to physical activity: 40% or more sitting, 40% or more walking, and 40% or more standing.
  • The job is performed under occasional temperature variations and in a food manufacturing office environment. Unrestricted visual and audio abilities are required for the safety of all employees. The ability to lift to 40 lbs. is required.