Research & Development Manager
Kinder's
| Company | Kinder's |
| Category | Science & Research |
| Location | Walnut Creek |
| Remote | On-site (inferred) |
| Employment | Not stated |
| Level | Manager |
| Salary | Not stated by the employer |
| Posted | 13 May 2026 |
| Last verified | 1 Aug 2026 |
| Source | Employer career page (greenhouse) |
Description
BUILT ON FLAVOR. FUELED BY PEOPLE.
What’s it like to work at Kinder’s? Well, there’s a lot of snacking and geeking out over what we all cooked over the weekend. Beyond that, there’s also plenty of hard work. Because we don’t just like flavor, we’re obsessed with it.
With over 100 products sold nationwide, we’re now a top-five brand in multiple flavor categories at Costco, Walmart, Whole Foods, and more. We’re not your typical CPG company. Privately held and founder-led, we like to think of ourselves as a pirate ship in a sea of cruise ships . Our crew is adventurous and fearless. We chart our own course and chase big ideas to make food unforgettable.
As we expand globally and approach $1 billion in revenue, we need more smart-and-scrappy, flavor-obsessed people to come aboard. If you’re looking for a place where you can see the real impact of your work... this is it! Every day, you’ll be part of a journey to add flavor to millions of meals and lives. What We Are Looking For:
At Kinder’s, we’re passionate about creating food that brings people together. The Manager, Research & Development will be responsible for supporting the development and execution of new and improved products across retail, club, and foodservice channels. This role will drive product formulation, process development, and innovation from concept through commercialization, ensuring every product meets Kinder’s high standards for taste, quality, and scalability.
This is an exciting opportunity to play a hands-on role in a growing, values-driven food brand — partnering cross-functionally to deliver consumer-loved innovation that fuels Kinder’s continued success.
What You'll Be Doing:
Lead Product Development
Support the end-to-end product development process — from concept ideation to launch — ensuring alignment with brand priorities, timelines, and cost objectives.
Drive Innovation & Continuous Improvement
Identify and execute opportunities for innovation, renovation, and cost optimization across Kinder’s portfolio, leveraging emerging ingredients, technologies, and process improvements.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Partner closely with Operations, Marketing, Culinary, and Supply Chain to translate consumer insights into technically feasible, scalable, and commercially viable products.
Technical Execution & Scale-Up
Support formulation work, pilot plant trials, and production scale-ups to ensure successful transfer from bench to manufacturing. Troubleshoot issues and optimize for quality and consistency.
Project Management
Manage multiple projects concurrently, ensuring milestones, deliverables, and communication are clear and on track. Maintain visibility to leadership through status updates and documentation.
Regulatory & Quality Alignment
Collaborate with Quality Assurance and Regulatory teams to ensure product compliance with ingredient standards, labeling requirements, and nutritional accuracy.
Team Collaboration & Development
Contribute to a collaborative, curious, and accountable culture within the R&D team while supporting the development of junior team members and technicians.
What You Bring to the Table:
Skills and Experience:
Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Chemical Engineering, or related field (Master’s preferred).
6-10 years of experience in food product development.
Proven success in CPG innovation; meat, sauces, seasonings, or condiments experience preferred.
Strong technical knowledge of formulation, ingredient functionality, sensory evaluation, and scale-up.
Excellent project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities.
Effective communicator and collaborator across multiple functions and levels. &nbs
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