Premier Nutrition: The Good Energy People
Associate Director, R&I
Premier Nutrition: The Good Energy People, Emeryville, California, United States, 94608
Premier Nutrition Company (PNC) is one of the fastest-growing companies in the proactive wellness space, known for its protein shakes and powders. PNC is part of the publicly traded holding company BellRing Brands (NYSE: BRBR) and is driven by the purpose of "Changing Lives with Good Energy." The company fosters a purpose‑driven culture that encourages employees to connect, belong, and thrive, and it has earned recognition as a Great Place to Work™ and is consistently ranked among Fortune Magazine’s Best Workplaces.
Job Overview This mid‑level R&D people leader role is a key member of the Research and Innovation (R&I) Leadership Team.
The successful candidate will directly lead a team of managers and scientists (3+ staff) and will work closely with R&I cross‑functional partners, external vendors, and third‑party resources.
The role is responsible for the successful execution of multiple high‑impact projects and for streamlining R&I activities, capturing technical expertise, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
The position is fully hybrid; employees in the Pacific Northwest will attend in‑person meetings at the Emeryville office Tuesday‑Thursday and may work remotely otherwise.
Key Responsibilities
Project Leadership (≈50% of time)
Set project expectations, align plans and timelines, conduct risk assessments, and develop mitigation strategies.
Balance technical execution with the company’s values, coaching team members, and building stretch plans for direct reports.
Ensure PNC values are practiced daily and foster cross‑functional collaboration.
Act as a key contributor on the R&I Leadership Team.
Project Execution (≈30% of time)
Initiate, develop, and oversee workstreams for Product Development projects (innovation, renovation, technical services).
Ensure alignment on resources, feasibility assessments, testing/validation plans, and troubleshooting.
Capture learnings and communicate through reports, SOPs, and training materials.
Build PNC product development expertise and excellence, including prototyping, robustness testing, shelf‑life validation, and trend monitoring.
Daily Operations (≈20% of time)
Attend meetings, participate in company events, and engage in informal conversations.
Handle administrative tasks such as email, calendaring, expense reporting, and other non‑value‑added work.
What We’re Looking For
Clear communication of complex technical subject matter to non‑technical audiences.
Application of technical knowledge to real‑world problems.
Ability to manage ambiguity and pivot quickly amid uncertainty.
Strong collaborative skills and a team‑player mindset.
Curiosity, creativity, and alternative thinking to generate innovative solutions.
Education
BS degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related field (required).
Advanced degree (MS, Ph.D.) in a related field preferred.
Experience
7+ years in the food industry with substantial experience in R&D, manufacturing/scale‑up, commercialisation, R&I IT tools, project management, and formal R&D leadership.
3+ years of experience in UHT protein RTD.
Required Skills
Communicating technical details to business stakeholders.
Executing projects on schedule while managing risk.
Effective teamwork through excellent interpersonal, influencing, and communication skills.
Self‑motivation and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
Travel: up to 20%.
Preferred Skills
Experience with Design of Experiments (DoE) and statistical analysis.
Interview Process
30‑minute phone chat with Talent Acquisition.
Short series of 1:1 interviews with the hiring manager, core team members, and a member from another team.
Case study or job task simulating real‑world responsibilities.
Final team consultation with bias‑blocking safeguards.
Premier Nutrition provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, status as a covered veteran, and any other category protected under applicable federal, state, provincial and local laws.
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Job Overview This mid‑level R&D people leader role is a key member of the Research and Innovation (R&I) Leadership Team.
The successful candidate will directly lead a team of managers and scientists (3+ staff) and will work closely with R&I cross‑functional partners, external vendors, and third‑party resources.
The role is responsible for the successful execution of multiple high‑impact projects and for streamlining R&I activities, capturing technical expertise, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
The position is fully hybrid; employees in the Pacific Northwest will attend in‑person meetings at the Emeryville office Tuesday‑Thursday and may work remotely otherwise.
Key Responsibilities
Project Leadership (≈50% of time)
Set project expectations, align plans and timelines, conduct risk assessments, and develop mitigation strategies.
Balance technical execution with the company’s values, coaching team members, and building stretch plans for direct reports.
Ensure PNC values are practiced daily and foster cross‑functional collaboration.
Act as a key contributor on the R&I Leadership Team.
Project Execution (≈30% of time)
Initiate, develop, and oversee workstreams for Product Development projects (innovation, renovation, technical services).
Ensure alignment on resources, feasibility assessments, testing/validation plans, and troubleshooting.
Capture learnings and communicate through reports, SOPs, and training materials.
Build PNC product development expertise and excellence, including prototyping, robustness testing, shelf‑life validation, and trend monitoring.
Daily Operations (≈20% of time)
Attend meetings, participate in company events, and engage in informal conversations.
Handle administrative tasks such as email, calendaring, expense reporting, and other non‑value‑added work.
What We’re Looking For
Clear communication of complex technical subject matter to non‑technical audiences.
Application of technical knowledge to real‑world problems.
Ability to manage ambiguity and pivot quickly amid uncertainty.
Strong collaborative skills and a team‑player mindset.
Curiosity, creativity, and alternative thinking to generate innovative solutions.
Education
BS degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related field (required).
Advanced degree (MS, Ph.D.) in a related field preferred.
Experience
7+ years in the food industry with substantial experience in R&D, manufacturing/scale‑up, commercialisation, R&I IT tools, project management, and formal R&D leadership.
3+ years of experience in UHT protein RTD.
Required Skills
Communicating technical details to business stakeholders.
Executing projects on schedule while managing risk.
Effective teamwork through excellent interpersonal, influencing, and communication skills.
Self‑motivation and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
Travel: up to 20%.
Preferred Skills
Experience with Design of Experiments (DoE) and statistical analysis.
Interview Process
30‑minute phone chat with Talent Acquisition.
Short series of 1:1 interviews with the hiring manager, core team members, and a member from another team.
Case study or job task simulating real‑world responsibilities.
Final team consultation with bias‑blocking safeguards.
Premier Nutrition provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, status as a covered veteran, and any other category protected under applicable federal, state, provincial and local laws.
#J-18808-Ljbffr