Research & Development Manager, Gummy

We're so happy you're here! Thank you for checking our job out and we hope to have the chance to meet you in our interview process!

About the role

We're seeking a trailblazing R&D Manager, Gummy to accelerate innovation and achieve things that have not been done before. In this role, you'll create a scrappy, remote product development lab, bring new gummy formulations to life monthly, and improve product quality and consistency across our manufacturing network. You'll be instrumental in scaling our innovation engine, launching new categories, and building formulation agility across manufacturers. If you're energized by experimentation, own your ideas end-to-end, and want to create what hasn't been done before, we want to hear from you. This role reports to our Sr Manager, R&D, who's genuinely one of the most creative and brilliant people in the industry and will be an awesome mentor for your growth.

This role is part of our remote HQ! We have a fully remote, high-trust work environment - and also come together on a bi-annual basis for amazing off-sites where we can connect IRL.

In this role, you will:

• Create a scrappy lab near you to conduct benchtop experimentation and rapid prototyping
• Lead rapid formulation experiments to bring innovation ideas to life and accelerate product development
• Collaborate with manufacturers to bring products to life through production runs and scale-up processes
• Drive V2 formulation updates post-launch based on customer feedback to increase quality and retention
• Adapt and expand formulations to work across multiple co-manufacturers, increasing supply chain resiliency
• Work cross-functionally with vendors, operations, quality, and brand teams to bring high-impact innovation to market
• Maintain organized work environment and equipment to support consistent experimentation and development

We're looking for someone who:

• Has 3+ years in confectionary product development (gummy experience strongly preferred)
• Demonstrates technical skills in formulation development and production scale-up with experience collaborating with operations and co-manufacturers
• Holds a Bachelor's degree in Food Science or related field
• Excels as a collaborative communicator, working effectively with cross-functional teams and external partners
• Shows strong organizational abilities to thoughtfully maintain work environment and equipment
• Has experience building an R&D lab from scratch (bonus points)

Approach to the role:

• Brings innovation vision to life autonomously through proactive research, rapid experimentation, and creative problem-solving
• Moves fast and thinks creatively, unafraid to test new approaches and iterate quickly
• Communicates effectively with vendors and cross-functional partners to negotiate and drive projects forward
• Takes full ownership of ideas from concept through production with minimal guidance
• Balances speed with quality while maintaining an organized and efficient work environment

A bit about us...

At Grüns, we believe that foundational nutrition should be simple and convenient for everyone. We're dedicated to bringing comprehensive and real nutrition to you through our gummies, formulated from 60 nutrient-dense and whole-food ingredients. Simply enjoy a grab-and-go snack pack of gummies daily whenever fits best in your schedule and wherever life takes you.

Like you, we were disappointed. There’s an infinite number of “nutrition” companies, all focused on what’s best for them — not what’s best for you. Hundreds of products to sell you on, low-quality ingredients, and small nutrient doses. We’ve seen it all.

So we decided it was time to fix it. No more choking on and popping pills like a pharmacy. No more clean-up and disgust from gross powders. And no more cobbling together handfuls to dozens of supplements. Grüns is comprehensive nutrition, made convenient and delicious.

What we care about...

Autonomy: Only the best work at Grüns. We’re all confident, independent leaders. We are proactive. We find opportunities for improvement. Don’t ask; just do. When our actions impact other areas of the organization, we communicate with those functional leaders to ensure connectivity.

Growth: We love to take on new challenges, learn new things, and express interest in new functions. “I’ve never done this before” is not an excuse; it’s an opportunity.

Community: We care deeply about each other. We’re good humans and provide support wherever we can. We care, not just professionally but personally as well.

Compensation & Perks:

For every role, we aim to have highly competitive compensation and opportunity for impact and career growth.

Everyone at Grüns works hard, but we believe in wellness and balance too. We have super strong benefits coverage -- for you and your family, generous PTO, free Grüns subscriptions, and a few more perks centered around health and well-being that we can't wait to tell you about!