R&D and Commercialization Manager – Meat Snacks
Fitt City
full-time
Posted on:
Location Type: Remote
Location: Remote • 🇺🇸 United States
Visit company websiteJob Level
Mid-LevelSenior
About the role
- Own our Meat Snacking Product suite, including all SKUs.
- Drive product development of new SKUs and line extensions from concept to launch.
- Lead product improvement initiatives for existing SKUs, focusing on sensory attributes, shelf stability, and cost optimization without compromising quality.
- Develop and maintain specifications, formulas, and processing parameters for all meat snack products.
- Support R&D by working with manufacturing development prototypes in lab and pilot settings.
- Lead building supply chains in regenerative agriculture ensuring support to the suppliers that need brands like us to thrive.
- Plan and execute all production trials, including first production runs, ensuring successful scale-up and adherence to specifications.
- Serve as the primary technical point of contact for ongoing manufacturing relationships with co-packers.
- Oversee the transition from R&D to first production, including packaging review, final specification sign-off, and labeling accuracy.
- Collaborate with the QA team to ensure all meat products meet strict food safety (USDA/FDA, HACCP/HARPC), quality, and regulatory compliance standards.
- Develop repeatable processes that accelerate quality-compliant concept-to-launch timelines for meat products.
- Serve as the day-to-day point of contact for co-manufacturers to manage production timelines, troubleshoot technical issues, and ensure specification adherence.
- Travel onsite frequently for production runs, quality audits, troubleshooting, and relationship building.
- Drive accountability on documentation, batch accuracy, and adherence to specs.
- Identify opportunities to streamline quality processes, reduce waste, and enhance overall product quality and safety within the meat snack category.
Requirements
- 6+ years of experience in meat snack manufacturing, product development, or food science specifically focused on meat products (jerky, sticks, bars, etc.)
- Bachelor’s degree in Meat Science, Food Science, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
- Strong understanding of USDA/FDA regulatory compliance, food safety principles (HACCP/HARPC), and GMPs specific to meat product processing.
- Proven success working with co-manufacturers/co-packers and leading technical scale-up in fast-paced innovation cycles.
- Experience in formula creation, process development, and managing production trials.
- Excellent project management and cross-functional communication skills.
- Comfortable in a lean, high-growth environment.
- Ability to balance high-level strategy with hands-on execution (e.g., prototype development, batch troubleshooting).
- Strong organizational systems and bias for action.
- Willingness to travel frequently for site visits, production trials, and audits.
Benefits
- Health insurance
- Retirement plans
- Paid time off
- Flexible work arrangements
- Professional development
Applicant Tracking System Keywords
Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.
Hard skills
product developmentsensory attributesshelf stabilitycost optimizationformulasprocessing parametersproduction trialsquality-compliant processesformula creationprocess development
Soft skills
project managementcross-functional communicationorganizational systemsbias for actiontroubleshootingrelationship buildingaccountabilityexecutionleadershipadaptability