Chocolate, Project Lead Scientist

The R&D Lead will be responsible for leading and moving products forward in the development process from ideation to commercialization. You will be leading key projects important to Voyage’s mission. This role will be within the research and development team and will be imperative to the business and our future. You will be expected to report on any technical product issues that are discovered during evaluation, manage product testing and trials, and assess the materials used, the efficiency of the process, and the effectiveness of the final product. 

This is an exempt, supervisory position based at our Oakland, CA HQ location and will report directly to the VP of R&D. 

What you’ll do 

• Lead key projects within R&D to support business goals with ownership of the entire development process from start to finish. 

• Demonstrate knowledge of industry manufacturing operations that will ultimately be used to commercialize new products. 

• Develop research programs incorporating current developments to improve existing products and study the potential of new products. 

• Plan and execute equipment trials to scale new products. 

• Demonstrate creative problem solving with a bias to action. 
• Document all phases of research and development and communicate results and learnings to key stakeholders 
• Present regular reports on project progress, problems, and solutions.
• Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Production, Quality Control, Sales and Marketing. 
• Apply quantitative methods: analyze data, evaluate results, form conclusions, and provide/implement process or document improvement. 
• Mentor and Lead a team of scientists by providing ongoing coaching and feedback. 
• Assess the scope of research projects and ensure they are on time. 
• Performs other duties as assigned 
• Track spending and assess the value proposition of any expenditures as it relates to the success of the team or project in concert with the VP of R&D.

What makes you successful / What makes a great candidate 

• 5+ years in chocolate, confectionery, or related R&D desired 
• Excellent leadership skills with ideally 1-2 years experience supervising and motivating teams. 
• Experience conducting equipment trials and scale-up commercialization runs 
• Possesses a proactive bias towards action, readily initiating and driving forward solutions in dynamic environments. Demonstrates comfort and proficiency in navigating complex scenarios, leveraging adaptability and critical thinking to achieve successful outcomes.
• Demonstration of ownership of at least one product from ideation to commercialization
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to analyze data and make informed decisions.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders. 
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Excel and Google Suite 

Physical Demands 

• Tasting and comparing the tastes of a full range of foods and food products (including dairy, fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, grains, nuts, meat, poultry, fish, shellfish, spices, and other foods) for different characteristics, such as appearance, smell, taste, flavor, and quality of ingredients. 
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer 

Compensation

United States-based roles only: The Annual salary for this role is between $104,000-$130,000 plus immediate participation in our benefits program (health, dental, 401k and many others), utilization of our generous paid time off and, where applicable, participation in our incentive programs. All employees are owners of Voyage Foods and receive an equity grant as part of their total package. At Voyage Foods, we approach each individual's compensation with a promise of fair market value and internal equity commensurate with experience and specific skill set.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, Vision Plans
• STD/LTD, Life and AD&D policies
• FSA, HRA, and Mental Health Program Benefits
• Commuter Benefits
• 401K Program
• Unlimited Vacation
• Paid Family Leave Program
• Ongoing Team Events, including Weekly Friday Lunches

Voyage Foods is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual