Yakima Chief Hops · 1 day ago
Director of Research and Development
Yakima, WA
Full-time
Onsite
Lead/Staff, Director/Executive
$130K/yr - $165K/yr
5+ years expYakima Chief Hops is a company focused on the research and development of hemp and hop products. The Director of R&D will manage the operation of the research and development program, contributing to strategic goals and overseeing various program elements including sensory programs and analytical research.
AgricultureInformation TechnologySoftware
Responsibilities
Provide oversight to the creation and implementation of standards, processes and procedures that support the quality assurance initiatives of the company
Ensure that company SOP’s are followed, implemented, and when necessary created, in order to assure and nurture a best-in-class company quality reputation
Provide leadership in improving collaboration and communication between key internal stakeholders in the company
Develop and nurture a culture of quality rooted in passion for brewing and agriculture
Assist each department with the development of processes and standards to ensure “best in class” industry practices
Analyze and develop “best practices” across departments with emphasis on consistency, efficiency, and quality
Promote systems thinking, process flow mapping and SOP creation
Collaborate with Operations and ISO system managers on integrating ISO, cGMP and HACCP into production facilities
Lead experimental design in R&D for hops and hemp and where applicable, in process improvement initiatives throughout the company
Establish a clear process for project inception, hypothesis formation, testing protocols, falsification cross-testing and the reporting of results
Direct and manage the progress of research and development projects from inception to completion
Manage the overall R&D program goals and scope in alignment with the YCH mission and strategic plan
Ensure that YCH remains the global leader in hemp and hop analysis
Educate growers and customers on the latest discoveries from our program and global studies
Facilitate reporting and feedback to growers and customers on quality and product character
Collaborate with industry partners on variety development, quality, and growing and processing techniques
Effectively manage team and resources to run as LEAN as possible without compromising our ability to grow and cement our roles as leaders in hemp and hops
Work as a liaison with industry leaders to keep the company on the front end of all development of quality processes and sustainability
Attend and present at industry events in hemp, hops, and brewing
Interface with brewing & hemp communities to share YCH quality standards and sustainability initiatives
Work with commercial partners on product development and quality issues
Participate in industry forums and be an active voice for improvement in all areas hemp and hops
Oversee the publication of internal and external reports at or above the best industry standards
Work to elevate the standards of the hop and hemp industries
Guide the collection, curation and interpretation of data from the R&D program and initiatives to facilitate improvement in all areas (growers, quality, selection, processing, sensory, brewing, and sales)
Create and maintain a unified data storage, analysis and reporting system for all areas of R&D that is easy to interact with and allows analysis with minimal ‘touches’
Ensure aggregation and accuracy of data, presentation of information, allocation of lots and feedback to growers and YCH from customers
Commit to the development of new and the continuous improvement of existing systems for reporting and tracking of data and activities
Actively participate in the design of work to pursue new products, processes and inventions based on the newest information developed through R&D at YCH and elsewhere
Must adhere to all company policies
Examine documents, materials, or products and monitor work processes to assess completeness, accuracy and conformance to standards and specifications
Ensure a healthy and productive work environment for R&D teams
Regularly meet with the leads of all divisions and perform continuous evaluations of staff satisfaction and performance
Fulfill all staff management duties for your department (mid-year and yearly reviews, maintain C.E.R.s, IDPs)
Act as a mentor for junior staff and champion their development
Manage department resource to stay at or under budget
Act as a champion for the programs, staff and resources required to achieve strategic goals
Shepherd people and resources to deliver the best return on investment for the company
Play an active role in the costing and planning of future expansions in R&D, Quality and Processing
Follow all direction from manager. Perform other duties within the company required so long as they do not conflict with the primary goals of this position
Qualification
Required
Technical background in analytical science (Chemistry, Food Science, or Biology,) and/or 5 years' experience in a research management role
Excellent mathematical, communication and computer skills, be strongly detail oriented and be able to easily multi-task
Must be able to independently initiate, prioritize, and perform or solve problems, achieve objectives and meet deadlines
Must be able to effectively communicate in written and verbal form with co-workers, supervisor and management
Must be proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook etc.)
Must be able to work independently and as a team member
Follow written (Standard Operating Procedures -SOP's, company memos & emails) and verbal Instructions
Minimum of 5 years related experience with demonstrated aptitude to learn on-the-job
Detailed understanding of subject, plant, process, analyses, operations and scope of work at YCH
Possess a strong work ethic to positively contribute to the company's mission, vision, values and environmental policy and quality policy
Must have a positive attitude, support co-workers and stakeholders to obtain desired objectives, and assist others in their contributions
Ability to adapt to changing paces and processes quickly
Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (in required areas) for extended periods of time
Experience developing and delivering technical training to a wide range of staff and clients
Experience developing SOPs and protocols for sensory evaluation and aligning these with laboratory and brewing operations
Willing and able to travel internationally
A desire to work with customers, researchers and growers in the industry and lead the field in the analysis and production of hemp and hop products
Benefits
Medical, Dental, & Vision insurance
Health Savings Account (HSA)
Flexible Savings Account (FSA)
Company Paid Life & AD&D, Voluntary Life And AD&D Insurance
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - Lifeworks
Calm for Work
401(k) retirement plan with 6% & Roth option
Education Tuition Assistance Program
10 Recognized Holidays
50 hours of personal/sick time pro-rated based upon hire date
110 hours accrued Vacation
Competitive Wages
Performance Incentive Bonus opportunities
Wellness Benefit
Employee Giveback Program
Individual Development Programs
Youth Donation Program
Continuing Education Programs
Bring your Pet to Work Program (applies to admin positions only)
Pet Insurance
And much more…
Company
Yakima Chief Hops
As a 100% grower-owned network of family hop farms, Yakima Chief Hops is uniquely positioned to establish strong relationships between the growers who supply our super-premium hops and the innovative brewing customers who utilize our products in their beer.
201-500 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageLeadership Team
Ryan Hopkins
Chief Executive Officer
Martin Ehrich
Interim Chief Financial Officer
Company data provided by crunchbase