Senior Manager of Research and Development

Butterball, LLC, one of America’s most iconic brands, helps consumers celebrate Thanksgiving and every day in between. Located in the thriving Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina area, our goal is to provide a diverse array of career opportunities and paths which include our farms, processing facilities and support offices.

We are the largest producer of turkey products in the U.S., and we make a lot more than Thanksgiving turkeys. Our company’s measurable growth is in no small part due to our team members in North Carolina, Arkansas, Illinois, and Missouri, who each have a seat at the table to contribute to our success

Job Summary

Guides a dynamic team involved in steering product development and process enhancements initiatives. Serves as a subject matter expert and spearheads intricate and pivotal projects, guiding them through the entire lifecycle from conception to commercialization. Collaborates with strategic vendor partners and internal partners to ensure the preparation of products for the market. Guides technical advancements in products and process improvement and explores emerging technologies to fortify the organization’s standing within the poultry industry while.

Key Responsibilities

Manages a large team of skilled individual contributors and / or people leaders. Provides guidance, coaching, and support to ensure successful delivery of department goals. Responsible for HR activities such as hiring, terminations, performance management, goal setting, team member development, scheduling, etc. Enforces and meaningfully contributes to the development of systems, policies, and procedures. Contributes to strategic planning and budget management for the function.

2. Oversees the Research & Development (R&D) activities of highly complex projects to ensure work is properly prioritized and completed in timely manner to deliver results.

3. Develops and implements the R&D strategy aligned with the Company’s goals and market trends.

4. Oversees the product development lifecycle, from ideation and prototyping to testing, scale-up, and commercialization.

5. Guides the R&D department in developing new product projects from conception to commercialization by collaborating with the Sales, Marketing, Operations, Purchasing, and

Quality Assurance teams.

6. Evaluates resource calendars and balancing resources as needed.

7. Standardizes R&D work processes, data collection practices, and communication / reporting processes.

8. Fosters a collaborative and innovative work environment to enhance team efficiency and

creativity.

9. Maintains external and marketplace awareness related to new concepts, products, ingredients, and technologies.

10. Impacts the development of new poultry products, considering market trends, consumer preferences, and technological advancements.

11. Conducts feasibility studies to pinpoint novel processes and product formulations with the potential to introduce new products.

12. Identifies and recommends new raw materials, ingredients, materials, and processes that improve products and reduce cost.

13. Documents and accurately captures crucial process steps in product specifications, ensuring clear definition of gold standard product and processing techniques.

14. Ensures all R&D activities adhere to regulatory standards and compliance requirements in the food manufacturing industry.

15. Fosters collaboration with external partners, suppliers, and research institutions to leverage external expertise and resources.

16. Reviews and directs continuous improvement opportunities and solutions directed at improving profitability, product quality, food safety and capital avoidance.

17. Develops project plans, timelines, and budgets, and regularly reports progress to the R&D Director and senior management.

Minimum Qualifications (Educations & Experience)

1. Bachelor’s degree in related field or equivalent

2. 8+ years of experience or the knowledge, skills, and abilities to succeed in the role

3. 2+ years of leadership experience or the knowledge, skills, and abilities to succeed in the role

4. 1+ year of industry experience within research & development projects

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Butterball Core Competencies

Caring about people, valuing contributions, and empowering to succeed is the Butterball Way. We recognize the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to Butterball and seek to create an environment where everyone can thrive. Everyone has a seat at the table and is expected to embody our core competencies :

• Safety First : We put safety first. The health, safety, and well-being of our people, products, and turkeys is everyone's responsibility and everyone's jobs.
• Integrity : We trust each other to do the right thing. We act with integrity and gain the confidence and trust of others through honesty, respect, and authenticity.
• Stewardship : We take care of what matters. We are accountable to our commitments and take responsibility for the well-being of our teams, our quality, our customers, our business, our brand, and our communities. We are always answerable for our actions and those we lead.
• Enthusiastic Attitudes : We create a climate where everyone feels they belong and can be engaged, every day. Where our people are enthusiastic and motivated to do their best and work together to make great things happen.
• Continuous Improvement : We are committed to continuous improvement. We challenge ourselves and our company to constantly learn, develop, grow, improve, and innovate.

Essential Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. Excellent oral and written communication, analytical, time-management, and human relation skills, and the ability to deliver clear guidance with patience and understanding

2. Strong understanding and mastery of poultry science / poultry processing, marination, ingredient technology, product formulations, and meat science principles

3. Exhibits technical proficiency across multiple categories, more complex product types, and production lines.

4. Demonstrates exceptional project management and organizational aptitude

5. Possesses strong leadership, creative thinking, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills.

6. Proven ability to use new technology to significantly improve profitability, product quality, food safety and manufacturing complexity issues.

7. Experienced with scientific research concepts, data collection, data review, resolving complex challenges, and collaborating seamlessly across functions.

8. Prior experience with new product launches; successful track record of bringing products from concept to market.

9. Familiarity with regulatory requirements in the food industry

10. Proficient with Microsoft Suites (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, MS Projects, etc.), Smartsheet, and / or related project management tools.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. 5+ years of Plant level Operational experience in Consumer-Packaged Goods (CPG) ex. quality, production, inventory management, etc.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be regularly required to stand, sit, talk, hear, reach, stoop, kneel, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer, telephone, keyboard, and occasionally lift up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, color vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Working Conditions & Travel Requirements

Work will be performed in a variety of conditions including remote work, a climate-controlled office environment(s), and in a manufacturing plant environment with varying conditions, such as cold areas, wet areas, warm areas, chemicals, and other site conditions. This position requires the individual to wear and work in personal protective equipment while in the manufacturing environment. For remote work, the employee must have a dedicated workspace to safely setup and use assigned IT equipment, preferably free from distractions. The employee is responsible for ensuring adequate internet service is available when working remotely (the recommended minimum speed is 20mb download and 5mb upload).

Disclaimer

The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of what is required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not imply or establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.

Butterball, LLC is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to the fair and impartial treatment of all employees and applicants for employment without regard to gender, age, race, religion, color, national origin, physical or mental disability, military / veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, marital status, parental status, pregnancy, or any other status protected by law. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the

essential functions of this job.

We embrace equal opportunity employment. Butterball is committed to the fair and impartial treatment of all employees and applicants for employment without regard to gender, age, race, religion, color, national origin, physical or mental disability, military / veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, marital status, parental status, pregnancy, or any other status protected by law.

This position is deemed Safety Sensitive for purposes of Butterball’s Drug / Alcohol Screening & Testing Policy. Details will be provided to individuals who receive a conditional job offer, or upon request.