R&D Manager

Aspire Bakeries is a North American baking company with a leadership position in specialty frozen baked goods. Formed from leading bakery companies, its innovative food portfolio includes breads, artisan breads, buns, cookies, donuts, muffins and pastries from beloved brands like La Brea Bakery®, Otis Spunkmeyer®, and Oakrun Farm Bakery®. With 13 bakeries in North America, we are committed to driving innovation, predicting upcoming consumer trends and flavors, and exceeding our customers’ expectations. Aspire Bakeries champions the values of Integrity, Ownership, Customer Focus, Creativity and Care to help us deliver on People Safety, Food Safety, Quality and Collaboration.

The R&D Manager for Artisan Bread and Lamination is responsible for developing new food offerings, setting process and quality standards, and managing samples and their shipment. The role requires maintaining a clean and organized work environment and supporting the commercialization of products. Reporting to the Sr. Manager of R&D, the focus is on the Artisan Bread and Lamination category.

Responsibilities:

• Establish and maintain process standards for dough temperature, hydration, handling, and fermentation.
• Maintain manufacturing and process specification records for all SKUs, implementing changes based on artisan bread principles.
• Review SAP standards for weight and weight loss, ensuring compliance with actual processing parameters.
• Collaborate with the FSQA team to evaluate Finished Good Oven-Visual Aid Guides and take corrective action for off-target products.
• Develop training manuals for bakery operators.
• Ensure process compliance for product development, process improvements, special projects, and technical innovations.
• Identify and resolve problems promptly, analyze information skillfully, and develop alternative solutions.
• Pursue training and development opportunities, continuously build knowledge and skills, and share expertise with others.
• Assist team members in creating samples from provided formulas.
• Manage sample inventory, ingredient control, and proper storage.
• Oversee sample shipments and maintain shipping and receiving records for the lab.
• Support team members during line trials as necessary.
• Adhere to NPD/BRC guidelines and Good Manufacturing Practices.
• Stay informed about market trends and new ingredient opportunities through industry seminars, trade shows, and professional associations.
• Conduct Product Ideation sessions to support new platform growth, both through innovation and customer requests.

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or GED equivalent required; AA, BA, or BS preferred. Additional culinary education is advantageous.
• 3 to 5 years of experience as an industrial food developer with a strong emphasis on culinary development and innovation.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English are essential. Fluency in Spanish is highly advantageous.
• Proficiency in food manufacturing software and a solid understanding of food safety regulations and quality control standards. Experience with sensory evaluation and product testing is preferred.
• Willingness to travel domestically up to 25% of the time, with occasional international travel as needed.

Salary Range: $90,000 - $110,000

Aspire Bakeries LLC values the contribution each Team Member brings to our organization. The final determination of a successful candidate’s starting pay will vary based on a number of factors, including, but not limited to location, shift, education, skill, and experience within the job or the industry. The pay scale listed for this position is generally for candidates that meet the specified qualifications and requirements listed In this specific job description. Additional pay may be determined for those candidates that exceed these specified qualifications and requirements. We provide a competitive compensation package that recognizes your experience, credentials, and education alongside a robust benefits program to meet your needs. For union-represented postings, wage rates and ranges are governed by applicable collective bargaining agreements.

Aspire Bakeries is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.