Job Information
Actalent Director Of Research And Development in Clifton, New Jersey
Director of Research & Development (R&D)Position Summary
The Director of Research & Development will lead and execute all product innovation initiatives across the organization, with a strong emphasis on beverage development and commercialization. This role is responsible for driving new product development from concept through launch, serving as the primary customer-facing R&D leader for large customers and national chains, and ensuring all products meet regulatory, quality, and safety standards. The Director of
R&D will oversee formulation, testing, and optimization while managing a fast-paced pipeline of multiple projects simultaneously.
This position plays a critical role in bridging innovation, quality, operations, and customer needs to deliver commercially successful, safe, and cost-effective products.
Key Responsibilities
Product Innovation & Development
Lead end-to-end research and development of new products, flavors, and line extensions from ideation through commercialization.
Oversee formulation, pilot testing, scale-up, and production readiness for new beverages and related food products.
Drive continuous product optimization to improve taste, shelf life, ingredient performance, cost efficiency, and manufacturing scalability.
Customer Partnership & Commercialization
Serve as the primary outward-facing R&D representative for customer inquiries, product specifications, and innovation discussions.
Partner closely with large customers, national chains, and strategic accounts to develop custom products and tailored solutions.
Translate customer needs and market trends into commercially viable product concepts.
Quality, Safety & Regulatory Compliance
Support and partner with Quality Control on product testing, validation, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Ensure full compliance with FDA regulations, food safety standards, and industry best practices, with a strong focus on beverages, juices, and fruit-based products.
Actively support and participate in FDA audits and regulatory reviews.
Maintain and oversee on-site food safety and regulatory compliance in collaboration with cross-functional teams.
Specifications, Labeling & Documentation
Develop, review, and maintain accurate product specifications, formulations, and labeling to ensure compliance and consistency.
Ensure nutritional, ingredient, and regulatory claims are accurate and aligned with current regulations.
Operational & Cost Optimization
Identify opportunities to improve ingredient sourcing, reduce costs, and streamline production processes without compromising quality.
Partner with manufacturing and supply chain teams to ensure smooth transitions from R&D to full-scale production.
Leadership & Collaboration
Work alongside a team of food scientists, including directly collaborating with one other food scientist to manage all R&D initiatives.
Prioritize and manage a dynamic R&D pipeline with multiple concurrent projects in a fast-paced environment.
Cross-functionally align with Operations, Quality, Sales, Marketing, and Supply Chain to ensure successful execution of R&D initiatives.
Core Skills & Expertise
Research & Development (R&D)
Beverage Manufacturing & Processing
Beverage Product Innovation
Food Science & Formulation
Flavor Development and Applications
Product Commercialization
Food & Beverage Regulatory Compliance
FDA Audits and Food Safety Standards
Top Skills
Research & Development (R&D)
Beverage Manufacturing
Beverage Product Development
Formulation
Food Science
Additional Skills & Qualifications
Master’s Degree in Food Science or a related scientific discipline required.
Minimum of 10+ years of progressive R&D experience within the food and beverage industry.
Strong background in beverage development, with openness to adjacent categories such as sweets, flavor systems, or frozen novelties (e.g., ice pops with natural ingredients).
Deep knowledge of flavor applications, ingredients, and sensory optimization.
Proven experience with FDA compliance, particularly within juice, fruit concentrates, or beverage categories.
Experience supporting and interacting with large customers and national chains.
Demonstrated track record of successful product innovation and commercialization.
Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-moving R&D environment.
Experience Level
Expert / Director-Level
Job Type & Location
This is a Permanent position based out of Clifton, NJ.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $170000.00 - $175000.00/yr.
Annual salary + annual bonuses based on company performance. 401K with matching program after 1 year of employment. Paid bank holidays, 10 days vacation + 5 days sick leave. Open to relocation benefits.
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Clifton,NJ.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Apr 30, 2026.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
At Actalent, diversity and inclusion are a bridge towards the equity and success of our people. DE&I is embedded into our culture through:
Hiring diverse talent
Maintaining an inclusive environment through persistent self-reflection
Building a culture of care, engagement, and recognition with clear outcomes
Ensuring growth opportunities for our people
Actalent is an equal opportunity employer.
About Actalent
Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services. For more than 40 years, we’ve helped visionary companies advance their goals. Headquartered in the United States, our teams span 150 offices across North America, EMEA, and APAC—with four delivery centers in India led by 1,000+ extraordinary employees who connect their passion with purpose every day.
Our Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai delivery centers are hubs of engineering expertise, with core capabilities in mechanical and electrical engineering, systems and software, and manufacturing engineering. Our teams deliver work across multiple industries including transportation, consumer and industrial products, and life sciences. We serve more than 4,500 clients, including many Fortune 500 brands. Learn more about how we can work together at actalentservices.com.