Head of R&D & Innovation

Location: New Jersey (Onsite)

Employment Type: Full-Time

Reports To: President

Compensation: $90,000 – $130,000

Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k), PTO

Company Overview

A growing Japanese Food Company is seeking an experienced and innovative Head of R&D & Innovation to lead product development and commercialization initiatives across multiple locations. This position will oversee a R&D team and play a critical role in driving innovation, supporting business growth, and bringing new food products from concept to market.

The ideal candidate is a strategic leader with strong food industry experience, a passion for innovation, and a proven track record of successfully commercializing products.

Position Summary

The Head of R&D & Innovation will be responsible for developing and executing the company's innovation strategy across foodservice and retail channels. This role will lead product development initiatives, identify growth opportunities, manage commercialization projects, and foster a culture of innovation throughout the organization.

Working closely with executive leadership, this individual will drive new product development, improve existing products, and support the company's long-term growth objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategic partner to the President on innovation and commercialization initiatives.
• Develop and implement comprehensive innovation and commercialization strategies aligned with company goals.
• Identify and evaluate new product, service, ingredient, and technology opportunities.
• Lead the commercialization process from concept development through product launch.
• Drive innovation initiatives that support company growth and market leadership.
• Foster a culture of creativity, continuous improvement, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Manage and develop R&D team members and related processes.
• Establish goals, timelines, and performance metrics for product development projects.
• Conduct market and competitive research to identify emerging trends and opportunities.
• Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, Operations, and Supply Chain teams to ensure successful product launches.
• Manage product portfolios and SKU optimization efforts.
• Develop strategies that support company vision, revenue growth, and operational excellence.
• Establish quantitative and qualitative measures to evaluate project success and organizational effectiveness.
• Monitor and improve processes related to quality, efficiency, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in Food Industry product development, innovation, commercialization, or related functions.
• Minimum 5 years of leadership and team management experience.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to make data-driven decisions.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Experience building relationships with suppliers, partners, and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Experience working in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and business systems (ERP experience preferred).

Preferred

• Experience in food manufacturing, food production, or consumer packaged goods (CPG).
• Experience leading product commercialization and product launch initiatives.
• Japanese-English bilingual ability is highly preferred but not required.
• Experience working in multicultural business environments.