Vice President, Research & Development

About the Company: Leading dairy processor and distributor of cheese, milk, and dairy ingredients. Industry Consumer Goods Type Public Company Founded 1954 Employees 10,001+Categories Consumer Staples Food Production Amérique Français Specialtiesdairy processorfoodbeverageconsumer goodscheesemilkingredientsdairyand dairy Business ClassificationsE-CommerceB2CAbout the Role The Company is seeking a Vice President for Research and Development to lead the technical and innovation strategy for its ingredients division. The successful candidate will be responsible for translating customer needs, market insights, and dairy science into scalable and profitable solutions. This executive will oversee the entire innovation portfolio, from the optimization of existing products to the identification of new technologies that enhance the company's capabilities. A key aspect of the role is to build and lead a world-class, customer-focused technical organization, ensuring disciplined governance from discovery to commercial production. The VP will also be the senior technical partner to strategic customers, driving co-development and technical selling, and will be expected to champion digital R&D capabilities and lead the intellectual property strategy for the division. Applicants for this role at the company should have a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field, with a Master's or PhD preferred, and at least 15 years of experience in R&D, innovation, or product development within the dairy, food ingredients, nutrition, or a related industry. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of dairy-component chemistry and functionality, as well as a proven track record in commercializing B2B dairy ingredients. Executive-level business and financial acumen, experience in establishing technical standards, and a strong ability to attract and retain technical talent are essential. The role requires exceptional communication and influence skills, with the ability to engage with stakeholders at all levels and across different functions. The VP will also be responsible for ensuring technical compliance with food safety, quality, and regulatory standards, and for driving productivity and margin expansion through process optimization. Functions Operations Strategy