Position: R&D / Innovation ManagerLocation: Chicago, Illinois. This is a full-time on-site role. Status: Permanent, full-time. This is a newly created opportunity!We are seeking a hands-on
R&D / Innovation Manager to
launch and
lead this new facility. The successful candidate will play a critical role in providing technical support across the United States, partnering with sales and product marketing teams, supporting customer innovation and helping strengthen Quadra's position as a trusted solutions provider.
This is a unique build-and-lead opportunity. Initially, you will serve as the lab's primary technical resource, establishing equipment, workflows, programs, and operating practices while working directly with customers, suppliers, and internal stakeholders. As the business grows, you will help define future capabilities, recruit technical talent and build a high-performing applications team that supports Quadra's long-term growth strategy in the United States.
WHAT YOU WILL LEAD- Launch and operationalize the Chicago Ingredients Applications Lab, including equipment readiness, laboratory workflows, safety practices, documentation, ingredient and sample management, and day-to-day operating standards.
- Develop a practical lab strategy and technical-support roadmap aligned with the growth priorities of the U.S. Ingredients business.
- Serve as the lead technical partner to the U.S. commercial team, providing formulation guidance, application troubleshooting, product comparisons, prototype development and customer-facing technical support.
- Translate customer needs and market trends into application concepts, demonstrations and prototypes that showcase Quadra's ingredient portfolio and create commercial opportunities.
- Partner with sales and product marketing on customer calls, technical presentations, innovation sessions, product training, and targeted market campaigns.
- Build strong working relationships with strategic suppliers and identify opportunities to support supplier growth through prototypes, application data, technical storytelling, and customer engagement.
- Create and maintain a sample and prototype library, application protocols, formulation records, and reusable technical resources for the commercial team.
- Collaborate closely with Quality, Regulatory, Operations, Marketing and the broader North American R&D network to ensure solutions are practical, compliant and aligned with customer requirements.
- Establish meaningful measures for lab activity and impact, including project pipeline, responsiveness, prototype activity, customer engagement, and commercial outcomes.
- Assess future capability and talent needs; help define roles, recruit and onboard additional technical team members as business demand grows.
- Manage the lab operating budget and recommend future equipment or capability investments based on business priorities and customer needs.
- Represent Quadra at selected customer events, supplier meetings, industry conferences, and trade shows.
OUR IDEAL CANDIDATE- You are a builder who is energized by creating a new capability, establishing a structure, and turning a new lab into a valued commercial resource.
- You combine strong food science and formulation expertise with a practical, customer-focused and commercially curious mindset.
- You are comfortable being hands-on while also thinking strategically about how the lab and team should evolve.
- You are an effective project leader who can prioritize multiple requests, set expectations, and move work from concept to completion.
- You communicate technical information clearly to both scientific and non-technical audiences and are confident presenting to customers, suppliers and internal teams.
- You build trust across functions and enjoy working closely with Sales, Product Marketing, Quality, Regulatory, Operations and supplier partners.
- You are proactive, adaptable, resourceful, and accountable, with a continuous-improvement mindset and a bias for action.
- You are motivated by coaching others and, over time, building a strong team and an inclusive, high-performance lab culture.
EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS- Bachelor's degree in Food Science or a related discipline; a master's degree is considered a strong asset.
- Minimum of 10+ years of progressive R&D, applications, product development, or technical service experience in the food industry.
- Strong hands-on formulation and prototype-development experience across relevant food or nutrition application categories.
- Demonstrated experience of troubleshooting formulations and translating technical work into practical customer solutions.
- Experience establishing or improving laboratory processes, methods, documentation and operating practices is strongly preferred.
- Previous people leadership, team building, mentoring or project-leadership experience; experience recruiting and developing technical talent is an asset.
- Working knowledge of food safety, food microbiology, and good laboratory practices.
- Experience supporting commercialization or scale-up in a food production environment is an asset.
- Strong digital and documentation skills, including Microsoft 365. Experience with nutrition-formulation software such as Genesis is an asset.
- Ability to travel within the United States and occasionally across North America to support customers, suppliers and internal collaboration.
WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE- The Chicago lab is safe, organized, operational, and recognized internally as a responsive, high-value resource.
- The U.S. commercial team has stronger technical confidence, better tools and more opportunities to engage customers through innovation.
- Customers and suppliers experience Quadra as a credible, solutions-oriented technical partner.
- Lab activities are connected to strategic priorities and contribute to a visible pipeline of customer projects and commercial opportunities.
- A clear, scalable plan is in place for future capabilities, equipment, and technical talent as the business grows.
KEY ATTRIBUTES- Builder mindset
- Technical credibility
- Commercial curiosity
- Customer focus
- Leadership
- Collaboration
- Accountability
- Creativity
- Sense of urgency
- Problem solving
- Organization
- Dynamic communication
Compensation:The expected base salary range for this position is
$125,000.00 to $198,600 USD per year, depending on your experience, skills, and qualifications. Our salary ranges are carefully benchmarked by role and level, ensuring competitive pay that rewards your expertise.
Total Rewards Package:Your base salary is just the beginning! This role also includes a
generous incentive program and
comprehensive benefits, recognizing the value you bring. At Quadra, we offer a total rewards package designed to support and motivate our team, promoting both career growth and work-life balance.
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