Role Overview

Slate is one of the fastest-growing beverage companies in the country, and the Director of Product and R&D leads our product efforts. This is Slate's top product role: you own how every Slate product tastes, how it's made, what it costs, and whether it meets our quality and food safety bar, across every SKU we bring to market. 

You'll lead two functions through two direct reports, the R&D Manager and the QAFS Manager, and set the technical direction for formulation, quality systems, and food safety compliance. Our core line is built on fluid dairy and retort and/or UHT (ultra-high temperature) thermal processing at co-manufacturing partners, so hands-on dairy, thermal processing, and co-manufacturer experience are central to this role. You'll partner closely with the Innovation & Commercialization team on new product stage-gate reviews, with Supply Chain on co-manufacturer selection, sourcing, and cost, and with Operations on day-to-day production quality. 

Reporting & Location 

Reports to Vice President of Operations. Direct reports: R&D Manager and QAFS Manager. Location is remote, consistent with Slate's operations team. 

Key Responsibilities

• Taste & Product Excellence: Own the taste standard for every Slate product: it has to taste great, and this leader holds that line through formulation, scale-up, renovation, and cost work. Ability to oversee central location tests (CLTs) and other sensory and consumer testing and use the results to guide product decisions. 
• R&D & Formulation: Own Slate's end-to-end R&D and formulation platform, from base recipe development through reformulation and scale-up, setting technical standards and priorities for the R&D Manager and team. 
• Quality Assurance & Food Safety (QAFS): Own Slate's quality assurance and food safety platform, including HACCP, food safety programs, product certifications, and quality systems, setting standards and priorities for the QAFS Manager and team. 
• Direct People Leadership: Directly manage, coach, and develop the R&D Manager and QAFS Manager, setting goals, building capability, and growing the R&D/Quality organization as Slate scales. 
• Dairy Manufacturing Expertise: Serve as Slate's senior technical authority on fluid dairy/ultra-filtered milk based manufacturing and dairy applications, guiding formulation, processing, and quality decisions specific to Slate's dairy-based products. 
• Retort or UHT Thermal Processing Expertise: Serve as Slate's senior technical authority on retort and/or UHT thermal processing, ensuring products are formulated and processed to achieve commercial sterility and shelf stability. 
• Co-Manufacturer Technical & Quality Oversight: Own the technical and quality relationship with Slate's co-manufacturers: lead process validation and technical transfer, conduct quality audits, and hold co-man partners accountable to Slate's formulation and food safety standards. 
• COGS Improvement: Drive cost of goods (COGS) improvements with Supply Chain and co-manufacturing partners through formulation, ingredient, packaging, and process choices, without compromising taste or quality. Lead this work directly or oversee the team members who do. 
• New Product Commercialization Partnership: Partner with the Innovation & Commercialization team through the R&D and Feasibility stage-gates, reviewing formulation feasibility, dairy and thermal processing requirements, and food safety implications for new products and renovations. 
• Product Claims & Certifications: Oversee the qualification of all product claims and the maintenance of product certifications, and review artwork against regulatory and internal requirements. 
• Regulatory & Compliance Oversight: Own Slate's compliance with FDA and other applicable food safety regulations, ensuring formulation, labeling, and processing decisions meet regulatory requirements. 
• Supplier & Ingredient Quality: Partner with Supply Chain on ingredient and raw material quality specifications and supplier quality standards. 
• Quality Systems & Continuous Improvement: Maintain and continuously improve Slate's quality management systems, including non-conformance, complaint management, and corrective and preventive action (CAPA) processes, across Slate's co-manufacturer network. 
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Represent Product, R&D, and Quality across Slate's leadership team, partnering with Operations, Supply Chain, Innovation & Commercialization, and Sales/Marketing on priorities that touch product formulation or quality. 
• Budget & Resource Management: Own the R&D and Quality budget, including lab, testing, and co-manufacturer audit resources, and prioritize investment across both functions. 
• Other: Other duties and special projects as assigned. 

What This Role Requires

This role is Slate's senior product leader, spanning R&D and Quality, with direct accountability for two functional managers. Dairy manufacturing experience, retort and/or UHT processing experience, and co-manufacturer management experience are core requirements for this role. Candidates should bring: 

• 8+ years of progressive experience in R&D, food science, or quality assurance/food safety in a food or beverage manufacturing environment, including 3+ years of direct people leadership. 
• Hands-on experience with fluid dairy manufacturing is required. Experience with ultra-filtered milk is a plus. 
• Hands-on experience with retort or UHT (ultra-high temperature) thermal processing is required. 
• Hands-on experience managing co-manufacturer relationships is required, including technical transfer, process validation, and on-site quality oversight. 
• Experience building, leading, or maintaining formal food safety and quality management systems (HACCP, SQF, BRC, or similar). 
• Experience leading or closely partnering on new product commercialization, including formulation feasibility and stage-gate review. 
• Demonstrated ability to manage and develop managers, not just individual contributors. 
• A strong palate and a track record of launching or improving products consumers love, including hands-on use of sensory and consumer testing such as CLTs. 
• Experience driving COGS improvements with supply chain and co-manufacturing partners. 
• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Chemistry, or a related field; advanced degree is a plus. 
• Working knowledge of FDA and other applicable food safety and labeling regulations. 
• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills, with experience partnering with Operations, Supply Chain, and Innovation/Commercialization teams. 
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced startup environment.
• Some travel for co-manufacturer site visits, audits, and production trials.

Compensation

• Competitive salary, equity, and benefits
• Healthcare: medical, dental, and vision coverage, with the company covering approximately 50% of premiums. More detail is provided during onboarding. 
• 401(k) retirement plan 
• Cell phone / tech allowance: $30/month. 
• Unlimited vacation. 
• Lots of Slate Milk and swag. 

Contact

• Please send all cover letters and resumes to careers@slatemilk.com