Senior R&D Leader

We are seeking a dynamic and forward-thinking R&D leader to drive the development of innovative, on-trend products within a fast-growing portfolio. As part of this fast-paced, entrepreneurial team, you will partner closely with customers, marketing, sales, and cross-functional teams to bring ideas to life, from concept through commercialization. Creamer or dairy expertise required along with technical agility, leadership, and the ability to turn ideas into actionable innovations. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Lead the development of dairy and protein systems from concept through commercialization, creating scalable, differentiated, and customer-ready solutions. 
• Collaborate with marketing and product teams to identify and meet customer demands. 
• Define protein “quality” to differentiate from just quantitative approach 
• Set strategies to study protein hydrolysis  
• Partner with internal and external stakeholders to create new product formulations and improve existing processes. 
• Lead and develop a high-performing technical team, providing mentorship and guidance. 

Ideal: 

• Deep expertise in dairy and protein systems, including:  
• Ultrafiltration and diafiltration processing 
• Protein standardization, concentration, and functionality 
• Dairy chemistry, mineral balance, and heat stability 
• Ingredient interactions and formulation architecture 
• Strong leadership skills, able to manage internal and external expertise and drive projects forward. 
• Experience working on cross-functional projects with marketing, engineering, and sales teams. 
• Passion for innovation, continuous improvement, and developing new processes. 
• BS or MS in Food Science, Dairy Science, Dairy Chemistry, Food Microbiology, or related field with 15+ years of relevant industry experience. 

If you or someone you know would be interested in discussing this opportunity, please contact Melissa Kern at melissa@curtisfood.com.