R&D Manager

R&D Manager COMPANY SUMMARY (“Who are we?”)

At The Honest Kitchen, we believe pets deserve the same quality of food as the humans who love them. As pioneers of human grade pet food, we use thoughtfully sourced ingredients and gentle preparation methods to create foods that are as wholesome as they are nutritious. We’re a purpose-driven, growth-minded, proud B Corp, (which is a legal corporate structure that allows us to operate and make decisions based upon a triple bottom line, factoring in social and environmental impacts right alongside our prioritization of long-term financial sustainability!) company made up of people who care deeply about pets, their parents, and each other. If you’re looking to do meaningful work in a collaborative, entrepreneurial environment where your ideas can make a real impact, you’ll feel right at home here.

We strive for an inclusive work culture that supports a diverse array of skills, experiences, and perspectives our employees bring to the table. For us, differences are a source of strength. We celebrate strong performance and ethical processes, and we work hard every day to nurture an inclusive culture where all employees can innovate and thrive. Here, you will not only build your career, but you will also uncover new experiences and collaborate with passionate colleagues.

The Honest Kitchen values a diverse workforce. Everyone, including women, people of color, people with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community are strongly encouraged to apply. The Honest Kitchen believes that an equitable and inclusive work environment and a diverse, empowered team are key to achieving our mission. We’re looking for candidates who can expand our business culture by bringing their whole, authentic selves to work. We strive to provide all qualified candidates with an equitable and accessible recruitment process.

POSITION SUMMARY (“What are we looking for?”)

The R&D Manager leads the development, optimization, and commercialization of new and existing product formulations across THK's portfolio, including clusters, wet food, dehydrated blends, treats, and supplements. Working at the intersection of science and speed-to-market, this role translates marketing and innovation briefs into validated product formulations and manages the full project lifecycle from bench prototype through plant trial and launch.

The R&D Manager works closely with the Director of R&D, cross-functional partners, and co-manufacturers to ensure products are formulated on-cost, on-spec, and compliant with applicable regulations. This role also provides day-to-day technical direction to the R&D Technologist and contributes to stage gate documentation and risk identification.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Formulation Development:
• Develop and refine product formulations for new SKUs and cost or quality optimization projects, working independently within defined project scope.
• Interpret nutritional analytical data and adjust formulations accordingly to meet target label claims, palatability, and shelf-life requirements.
• Maintain accurate, detailed records of formulation iterations, ingredient specifications, and any deviations from approved targets.
• Apply knowledge of ingredient functionality and food processing principles (e.g., extrusion, thermal processing, baking, dehydration) to develop commercially viable formulations.

• Plant Trials & Commercialization:
• Plan and execute bench-top and plant trials, coordinating with co-manufacturers, QA, Procurement, and Operations to ensure trial readiness.
• Serve as the primary R&D point of contact during plant trials; make real-time formulation and process decisions as needed.
• Document scale-up steps and ensure commercialization packages are complete and accurate to support on-time, successful launches.
• Conduct or commission acceptability studies and shelf-life stability testing; interpret and communicate results.

• Project & Stage Gate Management:
• Manage multiple simultaneous projects from brief through launch, prioritizing based on business need and escalating risks to the R&D Director.
• Prepare and contribute to stage gate deliverables, including technical summaries, cost assessments, and risk identification.
• Communicate project status, technical complexity, and emerging risks clearly to internal and external stakeholders.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration:
• Partner with Marketing, Procurement, Quality, Regulatory, and Operations teams to align on product requirements, ingredient sourcing, and launch timelines.
• Support regulatory compliance by ensuring formulations meet AAFCO, FDA, USDA-APHIS, FSMA, and NASC requirements as applicable.
• Provide technical guidance and day-to-day direction to the R&D Technologist in support of project priorities.
• Perform other duties as required to support the R&D team and internal stakeholders.

REQUIRED SKILLS/ABILITIES

• Solid understanding of ingredient functionality and food or pet food processing principles.
• Ability to independently execute formulation development and plant trial activity with minimal oversight.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; comfortable interpreting lab and production data to drive decisions.
• Organized and detail-oriented, with strong project documentation habits.
• Clear written, verbal, and presentation skills; able to communicate technical content to non-technical audiences.
• Collaborative team player who works effectively across functions and with external manufacturing partners.
• Must love animals and be passionate about their health.

REQUIRED EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Animal Science, Meat Science, Food Engineering, or a related field.
• 3–5 years of hands-on product development experience, including formulation work and plant trial execution, preferably in pet food or human food manufacturing.
• Experience working with co-manufacturers and managing multiple projects simultaneously.
• Familiarity with AAFCO, FDA, USDA-APHIS, FSMA, and/or NASC regulations as they relate to pet food products.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• This position will be based out of our Topeka, KS manufacturing facility 3-4 days/week with remote work on non-onsite days.
• Must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% or more of the time.
• Must be able to operate a computer and other standard office equipment.
• Must be able to communicate information clearly and exchange accurate information with others.
• Must be able to observe for extended periods and observe details at close range.
• Must be able to move around various buildings and plant environments.
• Occasionally move items weighing up to 20 pounds.

The salary range for this role is: $100,000 - $115,000/year.

WHY YOU’LL LOVE WORKING HERE (“What makes us different?”)

• Mission-driven brand making a real difference in pets’ lives

• High-growth environment with room to shape strategy and programs

• Collaborative, values-led culture that supports both people and pets

• Opportunity to work on a category-leading, human-grade brand with strong consumer loyalty

BENEFITS OF WORKING FOR THE HONEST KITCHEN (“What do we offer?”)

We offer a competitive compensation package, including salary and robust employee benefits. Some key highlights include:

• Time off: We offer a highly competitive time off schedule, including unlimited vacation and additional sick time, in addition to a generous company-paid holiday schedule.
• Benefits: Various health insurance plans with generous employer contributions to premiums. We also offer vision, dental, short-term disability, long-term disability, accident, critical illness, an employee assistance program, and an FSA/HSA.
• Financial wellness: Enjoy perks like a company 401K with an employer match.
• Mission Driven: Employees can take up to 40 hours of volunteer time a year, and we offer donation matching to non-profit organizations of your choosing.
• Pet Friendly: Pet-friendly offices, zoom calls, discounts on pet insurance, and of course, free pet food!
• Collaborative Team: We offer a fun, team-oriented work environment where you feel like you are making a difference every day.

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Ready to help bring better food to more bowls? We’d love to hear from you.

As a Public Benefit Corporation, our company's practices and outputs are assessed and evaluated across five categories: Governance, Workers, Community, The Environment, and Customers. We track our social and environmental impact over time and publicly disclose our performance in our annual impact report.

As an employee of a Certified B Corp, it is required that in performing your role, you factor social and environmental impacts into decision-making and actions as they pertain to your role with The Honest Kitchen, so as to ensure that our actions make a positive impact where possible.

*The Honest Kitchen is an equal opportunity employer. The Company’s policy prohibits discrimination based on race, religious creed (which includes religious dress and grooming practices), color, national origin, ancestry, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex (which includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status.