R&D Manager - GFMX

Griffith Foods is the caring, creative product development partner helping food companies meet the evolving needs of consumers while sustaining the planet. As a family business founded in 1919 and headquartered in Alsip, Illinois, USA, Griffith Foods is known for true, collaborative innovation guided by its purpose of “We Blend Care and Creativity to Nourish the World”. The company’s product capabilities range from seasonings and marinades to coating systems and sauces that are better for people and better for the planet. For more information, visit

Key Roles & Responsibilities

• Drive product leadership according to Griffith Aspirations.
• Plan, coordinate, and prioritize resources for new product projects.
• Lead cross‑pollination projects across teams and categories.
• Ensure R&D product and process development meets customer, brand, technical, cost, quality, food safety, regulatory, and manufacturing requirements.
• Participate in product portfolio roadmaps and research pipelines.
• Identify and implement new ingredients, technologies, and packaging to improve contribution margin.
• Accelerate speed to market through IPM methodology.
• Monitor trends and competitors.
• Provide technical support to Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain, Culinary, Sensory, Finance, Quality, Regulatory, customers, suppliers, processors, and contract manufacturers.
• Support price increase strategies.
• Participate in annual launch calendars for key accounts.
• Maintain confidentiality of formulas and technical information.
• Recruit, coach, mentor, and develop R&D talent.
• Promote urgency, accountability, inclusion, empathy, fair treatment, and work‑life balance.

Knowledge and Experience

• Strong theoretical and practical knowledge of food science, product design, ingredients, formulation, processing, manufacturing, food safety, health and nutrition, sensory evaluation, regulatory compliance, specifications, pilot plant and production scale‑up, project management, and organizational systems.
• Ability to apply digital technologies and R&D tools to support development, implementation, and continuous improvement.
• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science and Technology, Food Engineering, or equivalent.
• Master’s degree or advanced studies related to food science, innovation, business, or leadership preferred.
• 5–10 years of experience in food processing, consumer products, product development, R&D, commercialization, or related industries.
• Fully bilingual.