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Sartori Company

Vice President of Research & Development

Sartori Company, Hanover, Wisconsin, United States

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Vice President of Research & Development Apply for the Vice President of Research & Development role at Sartori Company.

The Vice President of Research & Development is responsible for leading the product development and R&D teams, overseeing product innovation, and providing technical support across the organization.

Responsibilities

Executive Leadership:

Provide executive leadership and vision for the Product Development and R&D functions, ensuring alignment with the company's strategic goals and long‑term growth.

Build and Develop High-Performing Teams:

Mentor, coach, and develop the product development and R&D teams, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.

Drive Breakthrough Innovation:

Partner with Sales and Marketing to execute the innovation roadmap and strategy, ensuring seamless product development handoffs on high‑complexity projects.

Cheesemaking Strategy:

Guide the optimization of milk utilization and process efficiency, leading efforts to create new cheese products and enhance existing offerings.

Product Development Strategy:

Oversee new product development including formulation, prototyping, and sensory evaluation.

Product Quality & Food Safety Culture:

Champion Sartori’s quality standards, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and delivering superior customer experiences.

Performance Metrics:

Deliver against business objectives and initiatives.

Stakeholder Engagement:

Communicate progress, challenges, and opportunities with the executive team, board members, and external partners.

Lead Cross‑Functional Collaboration:

Influence initiatives across the business to support company‑wide success and growth strategy.

Confidentiality:

Maintain confidentiality regarding proprietary formulas, ingredients, and projects.

Budget Management:

Oversee the R&D budget, ensuring effective resource allocation and alignment with priorities.

Safety Compliance:

Comply with company safety, HACCP, and GMP policies during plant trials and other activities.

Direct Supervision:

Lead and supervise the R&D team.

Qualifications

Education:

Master’s degree in food science or a related field.

Experience:

Minimum 15 years of R&D experience in food-related product development and innovation; at least 5 years in a leadership role managing directors and managers.

Strategic Thinking:

Anticipate future trends and align product strategy with long‑term objectives.

Innovation Leadership:

Drive breakthrough thinking and champion creative solutions.

Business Acumen:

Deep understanding of the dairy industry, product lifecycle, and commercialization.

Collaborative Influence:

Build trust and alignment across departments, driving execution and decision‑making.

Talent Development:

Build high‑performing teams through coaching, mentoring, and accountability.

Customer & Market Orientation:

Keep customer experience and market differentiation at the center of decisions.

Adaptability & Resilience:

Navigate ambiguity and shifting priorities with composure and agility.

Problem Solving & Decision Quality:

Make timely, data‑informed decisions to solve complex technical and business challenges.

Project Management:

Lead complex projects with clarity, accountability, and efficiency.

Cheesemaking Knowledge:

Expertise in cheesemaking science, dairy chemistry, microbiology, and food safety.

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