Sr. R&D Director

(Sr.) Director of Research & Development | FULLY REMOTE | MUST come from beverage industry

We're partnering with a high-growth, innovation-driven beverage company expanding rapidly across national retail channels. The business is operating at an aggressive pace, with continuous product evolution and a strong push to win in a competitive and fast-moving category. They are hiring their first internal R&D leader to define and build the function from the ground up.

This role will shape product strategy, guide technical execution, and play a critical role in scaling the company's portfolio.

What You'll Own:

Product Development & Formulation Strategy

• Lead formulation and development across a range of beverage products, optimizing for performance, taste, stability, and scalability
• Drive decisions around product improvement, reformulation, and innovation opportunities
• Establish strong product specifications, quality standards, and change management processes

Commercialization & Scale-Up

• Oversee the full lifecycle from concept through commercialization, including pilot production and manufacturing readiness
• Partner cross-functionally to achieve cost targets while maintaining product quality
• Serve as the technical expert in key business initiatives, including launches and external partnerships

Innovation Pipeline & Speed to Market

• Build and execute a forward-looking innovation roadmap across core products and new concepts
• Translate market trends and consumer insights into commercially viable products
• Implement structured development processes that enable both speed and rigor
• Prioritize initiatives that drive meaningful business impact

Consumer Experience & Product Quality

• Integrate consumer feedback into product development and continuous improvement efforts
• Establish programs to evaluate and maintain product quality and consistency
• Ensure products meet defined sensory and performance standards prior to launch

External Partnerships & Sourcing Strategy

• Manage relationships with external partners including ingredient suppliers, manufacturers, and technical resources
• Support sourcing strategies that balance innovation, quality, and supply continuity
• Stay informed on competitive products, ingredients, and positioning within the market

Regulatory & Compliance

• Oversee product compliance and labeling considerations
• Support claims development with appropriate validation and documentation
• Design efficient testing approaches to support product development and quality

Team Build & Leadership

• Build and lead the R&D function, including team structure, processes, and ways of working
• Manage budget and external resources effectively
• Act as a key technical voice within the leadership team, translating complex concepts into clear business decisions

What You Bring:

• 10+ years of experience in beverage or adjacent product development (e.g., functional beverages, nutritional products, etc.)
• Proven track record of bringing products to market in fast-paced, growth-oriented environments
• Strong expertise in formulation, ingredient functionality, and product stability
• Experience working with external partners such as manufacturers, labs, and suppliers
• Solid understanding of regulatory and labeling requirements
• Ability to operate strategically while remaining hands-on
• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Engineering, or a related field (advanced degree a plus)

How You Operate:

• Moves quickly while making thoughtful, data-informed decisions
• Comfortable making high-impact decisions in ambiguous environments
• Balances technical expertise with commercial awareness
• Builds structure and clarity in evolving organizations
• Motivated by creating and scaling new capabilities

Offering:

• Competitive base salary (dependent on experience)
• 25% annual bonus target
• 401k + full benefits options
• Unlimited PTO + 12 paid holidays
• Equity potential
• Significant opportunity for growth
• Fully remote with travel as needed (PST-based candidates preferred)