Research & Development Project Manager

Job Title: Research and Development Project Manager

Location: Ingleside, Ontario

About Us:

Welcome to Lactalis Canada – where we take pride in being recognized as one of Forbes' 2022 top employers! Our journey revolves around enhancing the lives of Canadians through a rich variety of dairy delights, including some of Canadian’s favourite dairy brands such as like Black Diamond Cheese, Lactantia Milk, Astro Yogurt, Balderson Cheese, and Cheestrings. In fact, we’re proud to say our products grace the shelves of an incredible 94% of Canadian households!

With a 140-year legacy driven by innovation and unwavering quality, we’re seeking like-minded individuals to join us in shaping our next chapter.

About the opportunity:

The Research & Development Project Manager - Cheese & Ingredients is responsible for providing technical leadership, expertise and/or first line supervision of Research & innovation project activities. Manages development activities and investigations in support of innovation, new product development cost improvements or technical manufacturing support. The position is accountable for providing leadership and specialized knowledge in the areas of food & dairy science, problem resolution, method development and project implementation to optimize manufacturing and support company business objectives.

The attributes we are looking for:

• Manage complex projects and provide specialized input and directive to project team by providing detailed investigation and data interpretation in support of business initiatives.
• Lead the execution of required bench top and/or pilot plant experiments in the development of new products and/or product renovations and/or new processes for the experimental plan and conduct experiments, produce documentation, and provide conclusions in support of the business initiative. When applicable, supports development designs and establishes P&ID/flow schematics with the engineering team and participates on the commissioning.
• Design and execute stages of product development by conducting pilot plant including operation of pilot-scale dairy processing equipment, and formula commissioning at full-scale manufacturing, which includes scale-up of prototypes and subsequent trials to support introduction of new products and /or product renovations including providing preliminary product cost analysis in formulation development and recoveries (Lactalis PCI Cost Structure) and working collaboratively with finance.
• Lead or support the implementation of manufacturing projects related to Continuous Improvement (CI) & Return on Investment (ROI) by trouble-shooting technical issues, influencing management and staff to take positive actions and accountability for their assigned target and objectives related to designated projects, reporting and follow up of the projects, and presenting regular updates
• Document and review the raw ingredients, formulations and final product specifications for the purpose of maintaining accurate records and to ensure compliance with Company standards and validate label requirements in relation to product standards, regulatory and labelling standards.
• Provide recommendation and/or directive to management team on regulatory initiatives and/or resolving regulatory concerns/issues involving the CFIA.
• Consult and provide directive to internal customers (i.e. Purchasing, Marketing, Manufacturing, and Quality Assurance) by communicating information for product improvements and/or cost savings initiatives.
• Conduct assessment of problematic product and/or ingredient issues and collaborate with a team to resolve the issues. Consult technical resources (literature, technical papers, and academia) to lead & source new development opportunities, inspire and leader of strategic business ideas.
• Unionized Employees: Location dependent, closely supervises the unionized R&D Technologist on various R&D Activities with different levels of complexity.
• Participate in the recruitment, training, and development of the R&D personnel.
• Responsible to ensure Quality is fundamental in execution of all work activities and work in compliance to – Lactalis Quality Systems (e.g., Knowledge of quality programs as HACCP, Good Manufacturing Practices, -QSL)

What you will bring:

• University degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, or related discipline
• College diploma in related discipline
• Eight (8) to ten (10) years’ experience in dairy or food industry
• Thorough knowledge of dairy and/or food products and their functionality
• Creative problem-solving skills to develop and perform bench-top and pilot plant experiments to achieve the solution
• Ability to apply theories and practice of chemistry/food science/microbiology to lead manufacturing process improvement and/or develop new innovative products.
• Ability to produce accurate documents of experiments in support of Company standards and SR&ED tax credits
• Strong written and interpersonal/communication skills with internal and external sources for technical information and ingredient assistance
• Strong regulatory knowledge including Canada Food Drug Regulation, and Guide to Food Labeling
• Ability to effectively report, communicate results and provide recommendations to the various functions (Operations, Quality, Marketing, and Purchasing)
• Organize and report results using a variety of computer applications (Excel, Microsoft Word, Lotus Notes, Nutritional programs - Genesis)
• Effectively handle multiple projects and the assignments of priorities within the defined project area
• Ability to lead, train and develop direct reports if applicable
• Bilingual French, an asset when applicable

What Lactalis will offer:

Lactalis Canada believes in rewarding its people with the following comprehensive benefits package and perks:

• A Competitive Base Salary
• A Performance-Based Bonus System
• 4 Weeks of Vacation
• Benefits starting day 1
• A Pension Program with an Employer Match at 100% of up to 6%
• Tuition reimbursement plan of up to $3,000/year
• A Volunteer Day to give back to your community
• Learning and Development opportunities
• A commitment to internal career advancement with potential for international mobility

Our ESG commitment:

Our ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) roadmap drives our sustainability mission. We aim to positively impact communities and the planet by enabling stakeholders including our people, consumers, customers, suppliers, dairy farmers, government, and industry partners to have a positive impact on the wellbeing of our communities and the planet through all that we do.

At Lactalis Canada, we value our employees as catalysts for positive change. Together, we will create a sustainable future, promote belonging, and make a lasting impact on the world.

Our commitment to DEI:

Fuel Our Culture with Your Uniqueness! Lactalis thrives on the value each person brings. We're dedicated to amplifying diverse voices, inviting personal and professional growth, and embracing everyone's true selves. We're committed to crafting an environment that genuinely welcomes all, reflecting the richness of our people and communities.

Our promise extends to accessible processes and spaces. If you require accommodation due to a disability (which may be visible or invisible, temporary, or permanent), please inform our Talent Acquisition team – confidentiality will be maintained.

Note: Lactalis Canada does not conduct credit or background checks through LinkedIn. If required, we'll contact you after signing a Job Offer.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Dental care
• Disability insurance
• Extended health care
• Life insurance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision care

Application question(s):

• Will you be able to reliably commute or relocate to Ingleside, ON K0C 1M0 for this job?

Experience:

• Dairy industry: 2 years (required)

Work Location: In person