Director of R&D Consumables

Central Garden & Pet’s Nylabone/TFH/Four Paws/IMS division offers exciting career opportunities in our Neptune City, New Jersey corporate office complex. Since 1955, Nylabone has been making the world’s best chew toys, long-lasting edible chews, and dental solutions for dogs of every age, breed, shape, and size. We know that every dog is different, and so are their needs. That is why we make a wide variety of chewing solutions in flavors, shapes, sizes, and textures for every kind of dog and chewing strength.Reporting to the Senior Vice President of Global R&D and Procurement, The Director of R&D Consumables is accountable for providing leadership in our pet product development efforts.  In this role, you will be responsible for driving product development, process optimization, and technological advancements through hands-on action to support business objectives and meet or exceed consumer requirements. The Director will also be responsible for managing a team of scientists, engineers, and technicians, and collaborating with key stakeholders to identify research areas, prioritize projects, and allocate resources effectively.This role is based out of our Neptune City, NJ facility 5x a week.  MEASURES OF SUCCESS:Develops and orchestrates pet food product development processes and systems.Leads the product innovation process for consumables in our business units.Drives high integrity in product standards, formulas, and product/ingredient specifications that meet operations, regulatory, consumer/customer needs, including final product economics of production.Embraces existing and introduces new business processes, incorporating the principles and contributing to continuous improvement to increase their effectiveness and efficiency.Champion development and introduction of new product innovation for consumables, translating experimental and consumer learning and technical expertise into effective offering news that delights our consumers and drives profitable growth.Work closely across departments and business units in establishing innovative products and success criteria.Identify new areas for innovation, claims/nutritional potential, improved profitability, and increased sustainability through: 1) Maintaining a keen awareness of competitive products, and new developments in product, ingredient and processing technologies, grocery, pet specialty, mass retailer trends, and other external consumer or customer trends that could influence industry and product direction. 2) Effectively incorporating these learnings into business plans to drive new idea potential.As a leader, actively participate in and influence initiatives to enhance organizational goals.Keep informed on all EPA and MPCA regulations.Ensure compliance with USDA, FDA, AAFCO, and FISMA requirements for a food manufacturing facility.Ensure compliance in the GMP system that products are consistently produced and controlled according to quality standards.IDEAL CANDIDATE ATTRIBUTES:BS required in Food Science, Food Chemistry, Cereal Technology, Food/Chemical Engineering, or a related field.  Advanced degrees MS or PH.D. in related scientific fields strongly preferredStrong preference for pet food development experience and animal nutrition expertiseA minimum of 5 to 10 years of successful product development experience in a fast-paced CPG environment.Demonstrated ability to effectively lead a product development function that drives quality and innovation, along with an entrepreneurial spirit and results orientation.Must possess strong regulatory as well as food safety knowledge.Excellent verbal and written communication skills.Must be creative, highly skilled, and innovative.  Proven scientific skills, financial business acumen, and mature judgment.Proficient in MS Office applications BENEFITS PACKAGE & EMPLOYEE PROGRAMS:Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision InsuranceFree Life and Disability InsuranceHealth and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts401k with 3% company match and annual employer discretionary contributionPaid vacation, holidays and sick timeEmployee Assistance ProgramAccess to thousands of free online coursesDiscounts on cell phones, movie tickets, gym memberships, and moreEducation Assistance (both college degrees and professional certifications)Referral Program with cash bonusAccess to on-demand payPaid parental leaveCentral Garden & Pet Company (NASDAQ: CENT) (NASDAQ: CENTA) understands that home is central to life and has proudly nurtured happy and healthy homes for over 40 years. With fiscal 2022 net sales of $3.3 billion, Central is on a mission to lead the future of the Pet and Garden industries. The Company’s innovative and trusted products are dedicated to helping lawns grow greener, gardens bloom bigger, pets live healthier and communities grow stronger. Central is home to a leading portfolio of more than 65 high-quality brands including Amdro, Aqueon, Cadet, Farnam, Ferry~Morse, Four Paws, Kaytee, K&H, Nylabone and Pennington, strong manufacturing and distribution capabilities and a passionate, entrepreneurial growth culture. Central Garden & Pet is based in Walnut Creek, California and has over 7,000 employees across North America and Europe. Visit www.central.com to learn more.We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by law.