Sr. Manager - R&D and Innovation (Private Label + Emerging Brands)

Join Riverside Natural Foods Ltd., a Canadian-based, family-owned, and globally operating business, committed to leaving the world better than we found it. As a B-Corp certified, Triple-Bottom Line company, we proudly manufacture nutritious, 'better-for-you' snacks such as MadeGood and GOOD TO GO. We value teamwork, humility, respect, ownership, adaptability, grit, and fun.

We’re on an ambitious mission to double our business by 2030, and we need talented individuals like you to help us reach new heights. At Riverside, you’ll have the opportunity to chart your own path to success while contributing to ours. We believe anything worth doing is worth doing right, and our values will guide us through the rugged terrain – and yes, it will get rough. But that’s what makes the journey worthwhile.

So, lace up your boots and let’s tackle the climb together.

You can learn more about us at www.riversidenaturalfoods.com.

Overview:

The Senior Manager - Innovation & R&D, Private Label & Emerging Brands (PL & EB) is a strategic, hands-on leader who drives growth through innovation and technical excellence across Riverside's PL & EB businesses. They combine creative thinking with disciplined technical rigour to identify opportunities, build winning products, and deliver them from concept through commercialization. Leveraging expertise in food science, ingredient functionality, and manufacturing processes, they provide technical leadership to ensure products are scalable, high quality, and commercially successful. Working closely with Marketing, Sales, Operations, and other cross-functional partners, they shape the innovation pipeline while developing a high-performing team of food scientists through coaching, accountability, and technical leadership. This role is a permanent full-time position.

1. Leads the technical NPD process for Private Brands & Emerging Brands, from internal or external brief and bid response to first production. Accountable for ensuring products and projects adhere to Riverside & PL strategy, food safety programs, planned timelines and COGS, target attributes and parameters, and sustainability goals.
2. Partners closely with senior colleagues in Marketing, Sales, Finance, and Operations as a vocal thought leader for innovation and portfolio strategy, ensuring the 3-year product pipeline is sufficient to meet GSV targets.
3. Provides technical leadership in ingredient functionality, manufacturing processes, technical troubleshooting, and scientific rigour across innovation and R&D activities.
4. Fosters a culture of innovation within the PL & EB team, encouraging experimentation and risk-taking. Drives the ideation process.
5. Leads strategic risk assessment, mitigation planning, and risk communication for innovation and R&D initiatives.
6. Actively seeks partnerships with ingredient and equipment suppliers to explore innovative ingredients, processes, relationships, or technologies that could provide a competitive edge for current or prospective clients.
7. Builds a robust network of co-manufacturing partners to expand Riverside capabilities. Accountable for vetting partners for technical suitability, NPD collaboration, and ensuring final products meet Riverside product specifications.
8. Champions continuous improvement across the business. Regularly seeks opportunities for product and process improvement, efficiencies, and better ways of working, and evaluates the impact of initiatives using performance indicators.
9. Leads and develops a team of food science professionals, supporting them with technical and leadership decisions and helping them achieve their growth potential through meaningful and dedicated personal development support.
10. Develops and coaches the team through project strategies, resource plans, and execution roadmaps for complex innovation initiatives.
11. Serves as a technical advisor to both internal and external partners, offering insights and solutions based on the latest food technology and trends.
12. Stays abreast of emerging trends and technologies in the food industry, especially within the snack category. Monitors the competitive landscape regularly and uses research and learnings to improve existing products or develop novel concepts.
13. Collaborates meaningfully with other Technical Design functions across the organization (R&D, Packaging R&D, FSQA, Regulatory) to share technical knowledge, process improvements, and collectively drive scientific and technical expertise at Riverside.

Education & Qualifications:

• 10-15 years of CPG experience in Research & Development and/or Technical Innovation
• Post-secondary degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Engineering, Chemistry, Biology, Microbiology, or a related field
• Master's degree in Science, Business, Leadership, Entrepreneurship, or a related field is an asset
• Demonstrated leadership and/or management capabilities
• Demonstrated experience in new product development (ideation through launch)
• Demonstrated experience working in food manufacturing facilities

Skills & Abilities:

• PASSIONATE for innovation! Driven to find and create better products and processes. Motivated by a high level of curiosity and creativity.
• TEAM player with a positive attitude and the ability to keep things light and FUN.
• Effective management skills, capable of working on and leading a diverse team. Willing to "fly high and low," leading strategic decisions but unafraid to jump in and get hands dirty when necessary.
• Self-starter with a high level of initiative and ADAPTABILITY. Possesses the GRIT and resourcefulness to make progress when faced with setbacks or ambiguity. Embraces discomfort and sees opportunities where others see challenges.

 Uses immediacy of action to respond to opportunities, strengthen technical rigour, and pivot when needed.

• Demonstrates HUMILITY and RESPECT for our people and our planet on a day-to-day basis.
• Strong communication and critical thinking skills
• Strong technical foundation in formulation, industrial manufacturing, sensory science, technical documentation, food safety, and innovation
• Ability to travel regularly to Riverside manufacturing sites (Toronto/Vaughan area), co-manufacturing sites across North America, and occasionally nationally and internationally (5-10%)

At Riverside, we are committed to transparency and fairness in our compensation and job posting practices. The range above reflects the target compensation for the position at the time of posting. Exact compensation will be determined based on experience, skill set, education, and training, as well as other organizational needs, while balancing internal equity.

What we expect:

• Values-led: You’ll be a member of a thoughtful and compassionate team that prioritizes respect, teamwork and resourcefulness along with a good dash of fun. Sometimes, even making granola bars is hard, and life’s too short to take ourselves so seriously that we don’t enjoy the journey.
• Unparalleled experiences and opportunities: We’re still determining who we are and what we can be. Help us shape what this organization will look like and what we’ll offer the world, into the future. This means rolling up your sleeves and sometimes building the process – fast! – while employing it. At Riverside, progress occasionally means proceeding imperfectly, and we’re okay with that, as long as we’re staying true to our values and learning and improving along the way.
• Access to everyone: We’re a flat organization with few silos which means you’ll have full access to everyone from our founders to our production staff. Even when employees dress up, they wear steel-toed shoes. So don’t be shy. Speak up, share your ideas and go places you normally wouldn’t – like the plant, or the boardroom.
• Personal development: We’ll support and empower you to chart your own path and reach any heights you set for yourself. Career paths at Riverside are carved by the people walking on them, not dictated by leaders. Count on us to give you the training and tools to grow and progress.
• Gratitude: As a growing business, we can’t always offer formal recognition like awards programs, but we do show our true gratitude and appreciation. At Riverside, we’re all in this together and we value you.
  
• Be a Riverside Brand Ambassador: Stay relentlessly close to our consumers and represent the brand in every interaction, decision, and deliverable. Bring the consumer voice into your work by protecting product quality, availability, and experience, acting early when standards slip, and delivering consistent value that earns trust, advocacy, and long-term brand love.

What We Offer:

• Values-led: We don’t cut corners or step on anyone or anything on our way to our summit. There is no winning at all costs here. Every step you take must align with our values, no compromises.
• Courageous determination: As a family-run, rapidly growing business, we are often challenged to find ways to deliver that aren’t obvious or easy. You must be willing to try, ask and answer challenging questions, test and learn, turn over every stone, keep moving forward and help us find a way through. Resourcefulness and grit will be your constant companions at Riverside and will serve you well.
• Humility: We’re a small (but growing) fish in a sea of whales and sharks. We know the products we offer are some of the healthiest and most sustainable, but we don’t brag about it, and know we have a steep path ahead. We pride ourselves in being respectful and supportive of others while shining brightly through our innovative, high-quality products. There isn’t one superstar at Riverside. We take turns leading the way as we climb to the summit.
• Continuous improvement: As a learn-as-we-go organization, we rely on each other to continuously improve everything we touch to make it better, more efficient, more sustainable, and more endearing to customers, consumers, employees, vendors, partners and the community. We own our mistakes and learn from them as we wind our way to the top.

Wait! There’s more!

• Immerse yourself in our comprehensive benefits program, with Riverside taking care of the costs!
• RRSP matching or 401k matching for an empowered financial journey
• Eligibility to participate in Riverside's Profit Sharing Plan
• Join Employee-Led Resource Groups (ERGs) championing mental health, sustainability, diversity, women, and LGBTQ+ rights
• Develop your career further through our Riverside University program and with our Tuition Reimbursement Program
• An open concept work environment that embodies our Values

How to Apply:

If you have the commitment to excellence, the energy, the attitude and experience we need, then please submit your resume to careers(AT)riversidenaturals.com with the job title you are applying for in the subject line or click the apply button!

Riverside Natural Foods Ltd. is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible environment for everyone. If you have a disability and require accommodation in the interview process, please let us know when you apply. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, due to volume, please note that only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Disclaimer: As part of our recruitment process, we may use technology-assisted tools, including automated systems, to support the review and assessment of applications. These tools do not make final hiring decisions. All decisions related to screening, interviewing, and selection are made by our Talent Acquisition and hiring teams.