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Tropicana Brands Group · 1 day ago

Senior Director, R&D - North America Product Development

Chicago, IL

Full-time

Hybrid

Director/Executive

$181K/yr - $254K/yr

15+ years exp

Tropicana Brands Group is a $3B startup aiming to revolutionize the beverage category, formed as a joint venture between PAI Partners and PepsiCo. They are seeking a Senior Director, R&D and Product Development for North America to lead innovation, product development, and strategic initiatives while collaborating with global teams to ensure alignment with consumer insights and business objectives.

Food & Beverages

No H1B

Responsibilities

Lead North America Product Development strategy, ensuring innovation and cost optimization align with both R&D global strategy and overall organizational goals

Leads the Citrus Quality Team, that researches and unlocks foundational science around Orange varietals, blend management and delivering a competitive specification in taste and preference

Oversee development of new products and reformulations to meet consumer needs and regulatory requirements

Drive design-to-value initiatives to enhance product competitiveness and profitability

Manage ecosystem partnerships across suppliers, university research partners, and technology start-up partners to accelerate the advancement of new technologies to drive innovation and leverage external capabilities

Provide leadership and mentorship to a team of up to 5 direct report people leaders, including Product Innovation, Design to Value, Technology Innovation, and Citrus Quality teams

Collaborate across all R&D functions including Process and Package Engineering, Governance, Nutrition and Regulatory, and Food Safety and Quality, as well as cross-functional teams (Marketing, Operations, Supply Chain) to ensure seamless product launches in Stage / Gate Meetings, Portfolio Management Review and in strategic sessions

Report directly to the Global Head of R&D, key member of the R&DLT and contribute to global innovation strategy

Presenting directly to the CEO and the Executive Committee on Innovation, Citrus Quality, and on long term innovation

Champion a culture of continuous improvement and scientific excellence

Qualification

R&D leadershipProduct developmentInnovation managementCost engineeringConsumer-centric designRegulatory complianceRelationship managementContinuous improvementTeam managementCommunication skills

Required

15+ years of progressive experience in R&D and product development within the food and beverage industry

Proven track record of leading innovation and cost engineering initiatives at scale

Strong background in consumer-centric product design and commercialization

Experience managing multi-disciplinary teams and fostering talent development

Demonstrated ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive cross-functional alignment

Familiarity with regulatory compliance and quality standards in North America

Bachelor's degree preferably in Food Science, Chemical Engineering, or related field OR minimum 15 years of relevant experience

Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship now or in the future

Must be located in the Chicago, IL surrounding area or willing to relocate for the duration of employment

Willingness to adapt and thrive in a blended work environment with 3-days in office, seamlessly transitioning between remote work and in-office operations

Travel up to 20%