JobsUSAAssociate Research & Development Manager
Company : Smithfield Foods
Location : Chesapeake, VA, 23326
Posted Date : 15 September 2025
Job Details
Associate Research & Development Manager
A great job-and a great future-awaits you at Smithfield Foods. We are an American food company with a leading position in packaged meats and fresh pork products. We're looking for motivated people who want to join our team and grow lasting and meaningful careers with us.
As an Associate Research & Development Manager, you will drive innovation by leading research and development initiatives, overseeing key projects, and meticulously documenting findings. You will play a crucial role in optimizing costs through formulation and processing efficiencies, developing new product prototypes, and identifying high-quality ingredient and manufacturing suppliers. Your expertise will help shape the future of product development while ensuring seamless execution and impactful results.
What You'll Do:
- Product Development and Commercialization: You will lead the development of new products and line extensions, taking them from bench-top concepts to full commercialization. By conducting pilot plant tests and production trials at manufacturing facilities, you will refine formulations and ensure the creation of high-quality, commercially viable products. Additionally, you will collaborate with R&D team members to generate innovative product prototypes that meet business and consumer needs.
- Process and Data Management: You will manage product formulations using an online database system, creating and adjusting recipes to meet development needs. Additionally, you will maintain detailed project files, ensuring accuracy in formulations, specifications, and key product data to support seamless documentation and successful product development.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: You will collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Business, Marketing, Sales, Manufacturing, and Engineering, to support product development efforts. By documenting and organizing product reviews, you will ensure clear communication on project progress through both verbal and written updates, keeping stakeholders informed and aligned.
- Skill Development and Compliance: You will improve product development skills through training, hands-on experience, and understanding USDA/FDA regulations.
What We're Seeking:
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Food Science or related field and 3+ years of relevant plant manufacturing experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience, required.
- Experience acting as a lead by providing training, coaching or mentoring to less experienced staff or through managing a process or project.
- Strong scientific knowledge of meat, non-meat ingredients and their functionality. Able to work with pilot plant equipment with minimum supervision.
- Proficient in on-line work systems and product development software tools.
- Continuously improves and updates food/meat science and product development skills and understands all aspects of current plant process systems.
- Ability to multitask; strong interpersonal, communication, organizational and time management skills.
- May require travel up to 40% of the time.
- Must have the ability to complete required applicable forms in English, which requires the ability to read and write in English.
- Ability to work well with others in fast paced, dynamic environment.
- Ability to be respectful, approachable and team oriented while building strong working relationships and a positive work environment.
Other Skills That Make You Stand Out:
- Master's Degree and experience in the meat processing industry, preferred.
Physical Demands & Work Environment:
- Office and plant setting. The plant environment will include wet or humid conditions (non-weather related), extreme cold and heat (non-weather related), working near moving mechanical parts, exposure to fumes or airborne particles, and chemicals.
- Noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but can be loud when in the production area.
- Occasionally lift and/or move up to 75 pounds.
- Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, and ability to adjust focus.
- Frequently required to stand; sit; walk; use hands handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, and talk or hear.
Relocation Package Available Yes
EEO Information: Smithfield is an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, gender identity, protected veterans status, status as a disabled individual or any other protected group status or non-job characteristic as directed by law. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment selection process, please call us at 757-357-1595.
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