Job Description

The Crump Group Inc. is a family-owned and operated leader pet treat manufacturer located in Mississauga, Ontario and Nashville, North Carolina. Since 2006, we have launched and developed Caledon Farms, Crumps’ Naturals, and Dog Delights, premium natural pet treat brands with distribution throughout Canada and the United States. We’ve outgrown our family garage, but our values remain the same!

We’re seeking a dynamic, results-driven Director of Research & Development to inspire, lead, and manage a professional team of R&D scientists at our facilities in the US and Canada. This role is pivotal in driving innovation in the fast-growing pet food category and shaping our strategy across North America. This is an exciting opportunity to lead groundbreaking R&D initiatives in pet nutrition, drive innovation that meets consumer needs and exceeds expectations and shape the future of our brand portfolio in a rapidly expanding market.

The ideal candidate is a customer-focused leader with deep expertise in pet food, a passion for companion animal health, and an understanding of the needs of pets and their parents. You’ll leverage technical and strategic thinking to transform consumer insights, science, and technology into successful product innovations.

As R&D Director, you will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams—including Regulatory, Marketing, Sales, Customer Service, Quality Assurance, and Operations—to deliver products that delight pet parents and strengthen trust in our brands. Reporting to the VP of Operations, you’ll play a key role in building brands that pet owners love.

Job Description:

• Apply scientific principles and creative thinking to develop innovative, healthy pet food and treat products that meet unmet consumer needs.
• Stay informed on competitive products, ingredient and processing technologies, retailer trends, and emerging consumer insights to guide product direction.
• Lead all technical aspects of formulation and product development, ensuring timely completion of project deliverables.
• Create and maintain accurate formulation and finished product specifications.
• Oversee sensory/palatability testing, shelf-life and stability studies, and other critical technical evaluations in partnership with QA.
• Prepare and contribute to technical proposals, reports, presentations, and summaries for internal and external stakeholders.
• Collaborate effectively across functions—including Marketing, Sales, Regulatory, Customer Service, QA, and Operations—to achieve shared objectives.
• Implement scalable processes to continuously improve product quality, food safety, and operational efficiency.
• Provide technical expertise and support to Sales and Marketing teams as needed.
• Engage in ongoing professional development through industry forums, trade shows, and educational opportunities.

Recipe for Success:

• Master’s degree in Food Science, Animal Nutrition, Biological Engineering, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in R&D, Nutrition, or Product Development within a large food CPG company.
• 5+ years of team leadership experience and having a passion to be a leader and contributor of new product development, working with sales and marketing, while understanding and listening to the customer.
• 5+ years of specialized experience in pet food formulation (preferred).
• Innovative: Passionate about product and ingredient design, bringing fresh ideas and a creative approach to pet food innovation.
• Collaborative: Skilled at working cross-functionally, balancing diverse opinions and priorities to achieve shared goals.
• Hands-On Leadership: A strategic thinker and team developer who is also willing to roll up their sleeves and support day-to-day operations when needed.
• Flexible: Thrives in a fast-paced, evolving environment and adapts quickly to change.
• Bias for Action: Results-driven, accountable, and proactive - someone who takes initiative on big ideas and delivers outcomes.
• Ability to drive results: Works to achieve goals while overcoming obstacles and/or planning for contingencies. The successful candidate will show a strong passion for reaching targets and thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Strong people development and relationship-building skills
• Change management and communication skills
• Valid passport and the ability to travel to our Mississauga, Ontario (Canada) facility.

A Few Extra Ingredients:

• Experience leading and/or supporting successful product launches.
• Deep understanding of food science, including how ingredients and processing methods impact flavor, quality, and shelf life.
• Strong knowledge of nutrient delivery and interactions (bioavailability, nutrient-nutrient, ingredient-nutrient, and process-nutrient dynamics).
• Familiarity with pet food regulatory requirements (FDA, AAFCO) and nutritional labeling standards.
• Solid appreciation for food safety and quality systems.
• Ability to develop or maintain working knowledge of formulation tools (e.g., Concept 5) for managing ingredient nutrients, costs, and constraints.

Why Join The Crump Group:

• Competitive salary with performance-based incentives
• Health, dental, vision and life insurance
• 401K
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Paid-time off
• Opportunities for career growth and development
• A collaborative and supportive work environment
• Tuition Reimbursement Program
• Employee Referral Bonus Program
• Free Onsite Parking
• Casual Dress Code
• Anonymous Employee Engagement Surveys
• Dog-Friendly Office

Our Core Values:

1. We embody an entrepreneurial mindset.

2. We act with compassion.

3. We act with Integrity.

4. We put quality first.

5. We work as a cohesive team.

6. We embrace agility and adaptability.

The Crump Group USA provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws

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