Vice President of R&D and Innovation

Kinsa is recruiting for an: VP of R&D/Commercialization
Location: Southern California

Our client imports and manufactures a variety of shelf-stable foods. They are looking to add a VP of R&D/Commercialization to their team, to work out of their offices a little south of Los Angeles, CA. (This not a remote position.) Drawing on culinary and food science experience, you will help them improve existing products and develop and commercialize new products that delight consumers. Your work will be critical to the growth and ongoing success of the company.

• Requirements: Food science-related Bachelors degree. Culinary experience. 10+ years of food product R&D, 3+ in a Director or VP role. Must have experience with rice, retort and/or RTH sauces and meals.

Compensation & Benefits:

• $230-270k base salary, 20% annual bonus potential & LTI
• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life insurance
• 401(k)
• PTO & holiday pay
• Relocation assistance

Key Responsibilities and Goals:

• Lead new product development from concept through launch, including formulation, shelf-life, and scale-up.
• Partner with Marketing, NPD, Sales, Supply Chain, and Manufacturing to deliver customer-driven products
• Evaluate technical feasibility and improve existing products, processes, and costs.
• Oversee recipe, packaging, and process development aligned with stage-gate timelines.
• Manage R&D budget, documentation, sensory programs, and regulatory compliance.
• Provide technical support for production trials and commercial launches.
• Drive continuous improvement to reduce time-to-market and development costs.
• Lead, mentor, and develop the product development team.
• Stay current on regulatory requirements, technology, and industry trends.

Competencies Needed for Success:

• Relevant Bachelor’s degree, Masters preferred.
• 10+ years of food R&D experience. Must have recent experience with rice, retorted foods, RTH meals and/or savory sauces.
• Proven people leadership and cross-functional project management.
• Strong financial, communication, and influencing skills.
• Strategic, creative problem-solver with results-driven mindset.
• Ability to travel up to 20%.

Referrals are our best source for the top talent our clients need so if you know of anyone with these skills in the food and beverage industry, please pass me their name and email/phone number, or share this job posting with them. Kinsa pays referral bonuses if someone you refer gets hired by our client!

Check out our other food and beverage industry career opportunities at https://www.kinsa.com/food-beverage-industry-jobs/#!/
 Recruiter Information:
George Blomgren
georgeb@kinsa.com