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Research Development Jobs in Utah (NOW HIRING)

Under the direction of the Director of Research & Development the R&D Chef will execute daily tasks meant to elevate current recipes or bring new concepts to life as well as any projects needed to ...

Under the direction of the Director of Research & Development the R&D Chef will execute daily tasks meant to elevate current recipes or bring new concepts to life as well as any projects needed to ...

Under the direction of the Director of Research & Development the R&D Chef will execute daily tasks meant to elevate current recipes or bring new concepts to life as well as any projects needed to ...

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Research & Development (R&D) Technician Do you love experimenting, solving problems, and bringing new ideas to life? If you're naturally curious, detail oriented, and enjoy working in a hands-on ...

The Director of Research & Development provides strategic and technical leadership for the development, improvement, and commercialization of flour-based products, grain ingredients, blends, and ...

Greenfield Milling TITLE Director of R&D Job Location Salt Lake City, UT 73099 Position Type Full Time Education Level 4 Year Degree Salary Range $100,000.00 - $125,000.00 Salary/year Travel ...

Greenfield Milling TITLE Director of R&D Job Location Salt Lake City, UT 73099 Position Type Full Time Education Level 4 Year Degree Salary Range $100,000.00 - $125,000.00 Salary/year Travel ...

Director of R&D

Salt Lake City, UT ยท On-site

$100K - $125K/yr

Greenfield Milling TITLE Director of R&D Job Location Salt Lake City, UT 73099 Position Type Full Time Education Level 4 Year Degree Salary Range $100,000.00 - $125,000.00 Salary/year Travel ...

R&D PDM Assistant

Salt Lake City, UT ยท On-site

$62K - $92K/yr

Research & Development In Research and Development, we're full of highly skilled talents that include Scientists, Engineers, Medical, Clinical and Regulatory professionals - all working to create a ...

About R&D Roles at Danaher Are you driven by curiosity, discovery, and a desire to contribute to meaningful scientific innovation? As an R&D Intern at Danaher, you'll gain hands-on experience ...

About R&D Roles at Danaher Are you driven by curiosity, discovery, and a desire to contribute to meaningful scientific innovation? As an R&D Intern at Danaher, you'll gain hands-on experience ...

About R&D Roles at Danaher Are you driven by curiosity, discovery, and a desire to contribute to meaningful scientific innovation? As an R&D Intern at Danaher, you'll gain hands-on experience ...

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Showing results 1-20

Research Development information

See Utah salary details

$44.2K

$92.7K

$150.2K

How much do research development jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for research development in Utah is $92,670.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $70,600.00 and $106,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What do research development professionals do?

Research development professionals support the planning, coordination, and management of research projects, often helping secure funding, develop proposals, and facilitate collaboration among researchers. They may also assist with grant writing, compliance, and project reporting, requiring strong organizational and communication skills. Their work typically occurs in academic, government, or industry research settings.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in research development?

To excel in Research Development, a strong background in scientific research, project management, and grant writing is typically required, often supported by an advanced degree in a relevant field. Familiarity with research administration software, funding databases, and compliance systems such as IRB protocols is highly beneficial. Exceptional communication, problem-solving, and cross-functional collaboration skills help professionals effectively manage complex projects and secure funding. These abilities are essential to drive innovation, streamline research processes, and support institutional or organizational growth.

What are the typical responsibilities of a research development professional?

Research Development professionals are primarily responsible for identifying funding opportunities, assisting with proposal preparation, and supporting strategic research initiatives. They often work closely with researchers, faculty, or scientists to develop competitive grant applications, ensure compliance with guidelines, and facilitate interdisciplinary collaborations. The role may also involve coordinating workshops or trainings, managing research portfolios, and tracking emerging trends in funding. Working in teams and liaising with administrative departments is common, fostering a collaborative and dynamic work environment that supports both individual and institutional research goals.

What is research development?

A Research Development job focuses on identifying funding opportunities, developing research proposals, and fostering collaborations to support research initiatives. Professionals in this role assist researchers in securing grants, managing research projects, and aligning proposals with funding agency priorities. They often work in universities, research institutions, or corporate R&D departments to facilitate innovation and strategic growth. Strong communication, project management, and analytical skills are essential for success in this field.

What are the most commonly searched types of Research Development jobs in Utah? The most popular types of Research Development jobs in Utah are:
What are popular job titles related to Research Development jobs in Utah? For Research Development jobs in Utah, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What cities in Utah are hiring for Research Development jobs? Cities in Utah with the most Research Development job openings:
Infographic showing various Research Development job openings in Utah as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, 12% Contract, and 2% Nights. Highlights an 93% In-person, 2% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $92,670 per year, or $44.6 per hour.

Research & Development Manager

Thrive Foods

American Fork, UT โ€ข On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 7 hours 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.