R&D Manager

R&D Manager - Kenny's Candy and Confections - Perham, MN
Our Coolest Benefit - Profit Sharing!

In our most recent fiscal year, KLN Family Brands contributed over $6.2 million into our employee profit sharing pool!!!

Our Story

KLN Family Brands is a third generation family-owned business that started in 1964 with its corporate headquarters located in Perham, MN, in the heart of MN lakes country. Together, our companies manufacture a diverse and expansive range of high-quality human and pet food products.

At KLN Family Brands, our vision is that "We are a proud people-first company. We are successful because of trust-based relationships and first-rate products for our families and friends. We better the world by caring for others. We challenge. We grow. We inspire."

Some companies have to "fudge the story" or add a "spin" to shine a positive light on themselves. That's not who we are at KLN Family Brands, and that's not what we do. We tell the story of our brand - our people, the quality and safety of our products, our bold innovation, our tradition and trust, and the way we treat our community & beyond. We do it in a genuine way because we genuinely believe we're a pretty amazing company.

What We Are Looking For

We're now hiring a R&DManager to support our Perham, MN Kenny's Candy and Confections facility. The full-time employee in this position will be responsible for creating new product formulations,

overseeing R&D process, helping create and monitor a consistent high-quality products and maintain or develop new customer and supplier relationships.

Essential Responsibilities:

*Minimum 5 years Candy/Confection Food Scientist/Food Technologist experience*

• Manage the formulation process for new product development, understanding single ingredient functionality and its effect on processing parameters (brix, pH, texture, water activity, etc.)
• Work with customers to understand their needs regarding flavor, nutrition, and label claims
• Work with purchasing and suppliers if necessary to get materials in house for benchtop and line trials
• Request all paperwork and logistical information on new ingredients, collaborating with the appropriate departments so they can follow up and complete the request
• Coordinate priorities with R&D Applications Specialist
• Organize and retain benchtop and trial samples for further review and shelf life analysis
• Lead the transfer of formulas from benchtop to line trial
• Work on current formulations to make any changes as directed by management teams
• Research market trends and develop new products and processes accordingly
• Present projects to stakeholders for review and input
• Provide necessary data used for reviewing opportunities
• Source and work with third-parties to develop products outside of current capabilities
• Maintain nutritional and labeling database and proof labeling information
• Create first draft tentative nutritional labels
• Create, proof and review nutritional panels for packaging
• Coordinate, manage, monitor, and document plant trials and first production runs
• Provide paperwork and verbal instructions to production team to run production
• Collect data, samples, and attend to detail during production line trials and first production runs
• Organize and file collected data for future reference
• Assist in sourcing and trialing new ingredients as needed
• Set up and operate required equipment needed for sample production
• Assist and advise Quality and/or personnel with problem solving
• Communicate with department heads, customers, and suppliers to discuss and resolve quality issues as required
• Prepare all necessary reports as required by customers and department leads
• Communicate with sales team on project timelines and updates
• Provides visible leadership and guidance to all R&D staff in order to foster continuous improvements and best practices.
• Empowerment Manager is expected and authorized as an individual to think, behave, and take action, and control work and decision-making about their job in autonomous, independent, self directed ways.
• Works with staff members to build bench strength and prepare employees for advancement opportunities.
• Provides/Establishes controls to assure optimum deployment of resources within approved budget.
• Works with production leaders to establish and deploy standard works.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Assists employee trainer and ensures employees are made available for training
• Follows and models all company procedures and policies, acting as a role model for other employees
• Assist Food Technologists on projects as needed
• Continue additional ingredient education and model current processing systems
• Assist in sourcing and trialing new ingredients as needed
• Use ingredient knowledge, processing experience, and project goals to define processing specifications in conjunction with the quality department
• Assist with product issues (processing, formulation, quality, etc.) with understanding of scientific principles to prove root cause and provide processing or formulation solutions.
• Accepts other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• 5 yrs experience in new product development and formulations in Food Science with Confectionary experience
• BS degree in Food Science
• Understand multi-ingredient functionality
• Self-motivation
• Basic computer skills
• Excellent communication and organizational skills
• Ability to work well with others