Project Development Director Jobs in York, ME (NOW HIRING)

The Process Development Manager, serves as a senior technical Subject Matter Expert (SME) for High Liner Foods’ manufacturing processes and systems, with a primary focus on ensuring frozen products are executed for successful full-scale manufacturing.
This role acts as the critical bridge between R&D and Manufacturing, translating bench and pilot scale formulations, processes, and specifications into robust, efficient, and repeatable full-scale production across High Liner Foods’ internal manufacturing and co-manufacturing network. The position identifies and leads product and process opportunities, including formulation and ingredient changes, process improvements, specification modifications, and the evaluation and application of new technologies to improve manufacturability, performance, and cost.
As part of a multi-disciplinary technical team, this role provides hands-on leadership during plant trials, first productions, and scale-up activities, ensuring alignment between product intent and operational execution.

The position is based at High Liner Foods’ headquarters in Portsmouth, NH and provides technical support to manufacturing locations as needed, including partnering with co-manufactures and vendors.

Accountability and responsibilities

Technical SME & Manufacturing Expertise

• Serve as the technical SME for frozen product manufacturing processes, systems, and equipment.
• Develop and maintain deep, current knowledge of products, formulations, processing technologies, packaging capabilities and plant operations.
• Provide expert guidance on manufacturability, process capability, packaging and operational constraints across sites.

R&D Manufacturing Translation & Technical Services

• Own the translation of R&D formulations, processes, and specifications into scalable, repeatable manufacturing processes.
• Support the plant with technical services when translating R&D formulations to plant runs.
• Partner with R&D & packaging teams early in development to ensure products are designed for manufacturability and aligned with plant capabilities.
• Identify process, formulation, or equipment risks early and drive technical solutions prior to commercialization.
• Ensure smooth transfer of products across High Liner Foods’ internal and external manufacturing network.
• Lead projects focused on yield optimization, cost reduction, throughput improvement, labor efficiency, and quality enhancement.
• Support formula and specification optimization to improve manufacturability without compromising product integrity.
• Analyze production and operating data to identify opportunities and implement sustainable improvements.
• Evaluate and apply emerging technologies in partnership with external suppliers, consultants, and professional organizations.

Plant Floor Execution

• Lead and direct plant trials, first productions, and scale-up activities, serving as the on-site technical authority. Establish and institutionalize clear success criteria for trials and production runs, including defined throughput, yield, and performance benchmarks.
• Set, validate, and adjust machine parameters, tooling, dies, cutting and slicing methods, and line configuration to ensure product consistency and efficiency.
• Troubleshoot process and equipment issues in real time, making decisive adjustments to maintain throughput, yield, and quality.
• Work directly with operators, supervisors, and plant leadership to align on best operating practices and execution standards.

Documentation, Governance & Reports

• Maintain clear, concise technical documentation including formulas, process specifications, trial reports, and risk assessments.
• Prepare project scopes, cost estimates, and support capital project requests as needed.
• Present technical findings and recommendations to R&D and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Mentor, influence, and coach plant leaders and project teams on best manufacturing and processing practices.

Process, Equipment & Technology Development

• Acting as the product expert, qualify new processing lines, equipment, tooling, and technologies to support new product launches and renovations.
• Define and document process specifications, control parameters, and standard operating conditions.
• Support equipment moves, line modifications, and process changes in collaboration with Engineering and Operations.

Cross-Functional & External Collaboration

• Maintain strong, cooperative working relationships with R&D, Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Regulatory, Procurement, FP&A, Supply Chain, Marketing, and Legal.
• Facilitate cross-functional teams to deliver process improvements that increase capacity, productivity, and cost efficiency.
• Support technical risk assessments and mitigation strategies through launch and post-launch.
• Partner with FP&A and Process Optimization teams to align throughput assumptions with operational reality, building structured feedback loops that continuously refine R&D capacity models and improve forecast accuracy.

Operate with a high degree of autonomy and technical leadership without direct people management.

Qualifications
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, Mechanical, Process, or Industrial Engineering. Equivalent extensive manufacturing experience considered.
• 8-10 years of hands-on experience in frozen food manufacturing; seafood or protein experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and direct work on the plant floor with confidence and credibility.
• Deep practical experience with processing equipment, including forming, block cutting, slicing, coating, frying, freezing, and line configuration.
• Strong understanding of food safety, quality systems, and regulatory requirements.
• Proven experience leading scale-up, first production, and commercialization activities.
• Experience implementing and sustaining continuous improvement programs (Lean, Six Sigma, SPC).
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and drive decisions.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
All employees will embrace High Liner Foods safety and quality principles. Working
together employees will ensure that activities and operations are performed in
compliance with the Company’s Code of Conduct.
Working conditions
Lab & Office Environment: Lab conditions include kitchen and lab equipment and noises. Office environment is moderately quiet.
Plant Environment: The plant work environment will expose the employee to loud noise, food grade dust & odors, moving & vibrating machinery, heavy equipment, powered industrial trucks, heights, traffic, anhydrous ammonia, oil and electricity. The employee may be exposed to adverse weather conditions including extreme cold, heat, rain, snow, dust, smoke and odors. Flexibility of work hours. Ability to work on feet for extended periods of time if needed.

Physical requirements/Allergens
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk, sit, talk, listen, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is required to use hands to handle, operate, and feel objects, tools or controls. The employee is occasionally required to operate a motor vehicle to travel to off-site meetings. The employee must have visual acuity sufficient to operate a motor vehicle and digital camera, as well as other office and position equipment. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. Employee must be able to hear and speak clearly in order to communicate with clients, coworkers, employees and vendors.

Travel

Willingness to travel up to approximately 40% within North America to support plant trials, first productions, start-ups, vendor visits, and equipment qualification activities.