Director, Research & Development

We are seeking a dynamic and collaborative Director of Research and Development to lead the development and commercialization of new products across our North American retail, foodservice, and private label businesses. The ideal candidate will bring strong technical expertise, proven leadership, and a passion for innovation in the food industry. This role will work cross-functionally with key business and technical stakeholders-such as marketing, quality, supply chain, and procurement-to ensure excellence in product design and commercialization. The Director will oversee all phases of the product lifecycle, from concept to launch, and play a critical role in optimizing ingredients, formulations, and processes to drive quality, growth, and operational efficiency.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Innovation & Product Development

• Lead the development and execution of the core R&D strategy aligned with High Liner Foods' growth priorities and objectives across all customer segments (retail, foodservice, private label).
• Drive strategic initiatives in innovation, product renovation, quality improvement, and cost optimization across the enterprise.
• Provide technical leadership and documentation in support of structured innovation processes such as Stage Gate, including key milestone reviews and PMR (Project Management Review).
• Manage multiple concurrent product development workflows, including documentation, specifications, product evaluations, sample creation, and integration of design feedback.
• Collaborate with marketing and insights teams to plan and facilitate customer ideation and feedback sessions, ensuring the voice of the customer throughout all stages of product development.
• Support cross-functional teams in sample creation, production trials, and commercialization, ensuring technical and operational alignment.
• Oversee and guide first production runs and plant trials to confirm quality, process stability, and scalability.
• Communicate effectively in cross-functional forums, articulating key opportunities, risks, and milestones to support informed decision-making.
• Demonstrate strong business acumen and enterprise thinking while influencing, negotiating, and building relationships across the organization.
• Lead multiple R&D initiatives-new product development and process or product renovations-ensuring prioritization, resource optimization, timeline management, and budget adherence.

Process & Ingredient Optimization

• Lead continuous improvement initiatives in ingredients, processes, and formulations to enhance product performance and production efficiency.
• Partner with operations and supply chain to identify and implement cost-saving and process optimization opportunities aligned with business objectives.

People & Team Leadership

• Achieve strategic and functional objectives through others by fostering a culture of trust, collaboration, accountability and mutual respect.
• Inspire and challenge a high-performing R&D team to meet company objectives with creativity, adaptability, and resilience.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to drive continuous improvement and maximize team effectiveness.
• Develop and manage the R&D budget with a focus on fiscal responsibility and resource optimization.

Compliance & Quality

• Ensure product development meets all customer, regulatory, and internal standards for food safety, quality and compliance.
• Partner with QA and regulatory teams to maintain documentation and support audits or customer inquiries.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Food Science, Food Technology, or a related field.
• 8-10 years of progressive R&D experience in the food manufacturing industry; seafood experience is helpful but not required.
• Deep expertise in product development, ingredient functionality, and processing technologies.
• Proven ability to lead R&D teams and manage cross-functional innovation and development projects of varying size, complexity, and strategic importance.
• Culinary experience or collaboration with culinary professionals is an asset.
• Strong project management and organizational skills with a track record of delivering on timelines and objectives.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills; able to manage conflict constructively and influence across functions.
• Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities.
• Skilled in negotiation and able to effectively manage competing priorities.
• Willingness and ability to travel to High Liner manufacturing sites, co-packers, and supplier partners as needed (domestically and occasionally internationally).

What's in it for you?

Join High Liner Foods for a career where you shape your path, backed by great benefits, and a culture of diversity, innovation, and sustainability. Immerse yourself in opportunities to make a real impact and grow with us in our mission to nourish lives. Start your adventure where endless possibilities to thrive together await.

• Competitive Salary
• Heath, dental & vision coverage
• Pay for performance incentives
• Employee & Family assistance programs
• Wellness Programs
• Retirement Planning
• Supplemental Parental Leaves
• Disability Support
• Volunteer hours
• Learning and mentorship opportunities
• Safety focused work environment

To learn more please visit our career/LinkedIn/Indeed page

Current employees please note: this position is referral bonus eligible! See our policy for more details.

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