VP of R&D
@ Flowers Foods & Subsidiaries

Hybrid
$200,000
Hybrid
Full Time
Posted 24 hours ago

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XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXX******* @flocorp.com
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Job Details

Overview

Flowers Foods, Inc. is a leading packaged bakery goods producer with 2024 sales of $5.1 billion. The company celebrates quality and innovation with brands like Nature's Own, Wonder, Dave's Killer Bread, Canyon Bakehouse, and Tastykake. As a VP of R&D, you will drive product innovation, technical strategy and develop future talent.

Role Responsibilities

Technical Leadership & Commercial Partnership: Provide technical authority and expert guidance for formulation strategies and innovation opportunities. Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, and Business Development; support customer engagements with solution-oriented thinking.

Technology & Scientific Innovation: Identify and implement emerging technologies such as enzyme systems, fermentation, AI-driven formulation tools and clean-label processing. Translate scientific research into commercially viable product innovations and collaborate with external research partners.

Market & Consumer Insight Integration: Monitor consumer behavior and dietary trends (plant-based, high-protein, low-sugar, allergen-free) to shape product development. Partner with marketing teams to validate concepts through consumer testing.

Regulatory & Industry Foresight: Stay abreast of regulatory changes, ensuring compliance with labeling laws and nutritional guidelines. Represent Flowers Foods in industry forums.

Talent Development & Future-Proofing: Mentor emerging talent and build leadership capacity. Develop a pipeline of future-ready leaders across the organization.

Strategic R&D Leadership: Develop and execute an R&D roadmap aligned with growth, sustainability and market trends. Lead cross-functional initiatives to commercialize product innovations.

Process Innovation & Commercialization: Oversee pilot plant trials, scale-up processes, and technology transfers into manufacturing while driving continuous process improvements.

Preferred Qualifications and Requirements

Minimum 10 years' experience in food product development with emphasis on baked goods. A Master’s or PhD in Food Science, Food Engineering, Chemistry, or related field is required. Competitive salary and excellent total rewards package provided.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health and medical benefits
  • 401(k) Retirement savings plan
  • Professional growth and leadership training
  • Paid vacation, holidays, and parental leave

Application Process

Candidates who pass the pre-screening questions may be contacted for a telephone interview. For resume submission assistance due to disability, please contact Tomica Reynolds at Tomica.Reynolds@flocorp.com.

Key skills/competency

  • R&D Leadership
  • Technical Expertise
  • Food Science
  • Innovation
  • Strategic Planning
  • Product Development
  • Regulatory Compliance
  • Team Leadership
  • Market Insight
  • Process Improvement
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How to Get Hired at Flowers Foods & Subsidiaries

🎯 Tips for Getting Hired

  • Research Flowers Foods: Study company culture, mission, and news.
  • Customize Your Resume: Highlight food science, R&D successes.
  • Showcase Technical Skills: Emphasize innovation and process improvements.
  • Prepare for Interviews: Practice behavioral and technical questions.

📝 Interview Preparation Advice

Technical Preparation

Review food science research developments.
Study emerging technology in ingredient optimization.
Practice scale-up process strategies.
Understand regulatory guidelines and compliance.

Behavioral Questions

Describe a challenging R&D project.
Explain teamwork in cross-department collaboration.
Discuss leadership in talent development.
Share conflict resolution in technical settings.

Frequently Asked Questions