Senior Group Manager, Product Development

About US

For 45+ years, Mattson has partnered with a variety of consumer packaged goods (CPG), chain restaurant, and food and beverage ingredient supplier clients, ranging from startups to iconic industry brands. Our passion is creating big business opportunities for clients. 

We help them figure out where to play and more importantly, how to win. But we’re unique in that we don’t stop there. We help clients execute upon the new business and/or product opportunities we’ve identified by:

• Formulating early prototypes 
• Developing the branding
• Positioning
• Packaging
• Testing with consumers

We operate at a lightning-fast pace, allowing our clients to be smarter and quicker in getting new products to market.  We provide hands-on resources, industry expertise, insight, and award-winning creativity across food and beverage categories, segments, and channels.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

As a Mattson Senior Group Manager of Product Development, you’ll be working on:

Product Development & Commercialization Management

• Manages one or more teams of professionals (product developers, commercialization expert, and support staff) to create new products across multiple product categories and throughout all phases of product development – from initial bench development to commercial launch, while considering critical technical issues such as: food safety, food stability, shelf-life, scalability, cost, nutritional and ingredient guidelines, etc.
• Responsible staffing plans; manages resources for area of responsibility, recommending hiring, promotion, and reward decisions within the group. 
• Provides guidance, coaching and training to team members and other employees within the job function.
• Participates in special projects, as needed, to support the PD function and/or Mattson team. 
• Hands-on execution of client initiatives, including developing products, closely guiding team members on the bench, participating in ideations or Food Studio sessions, and assisting with client meetings.
• Master benchtop processes and pro-actively work with Commercialization Managers to scale up products. Assist with commercialization trials, as needed.
• Understand culinary principles and apply them to technical development.
• Write and review technical and project status reports, protocols, finished product specifications, plant trial protocol/summary documents, shelf life studies, etc.
• Utilize experience and problem solving skills to solve complex technical challenges related to the development, manufacturing, and/or improvement of food products and processes and make appropriate technical recommendations.  Work is highly diverse in scope. 
• Manages multiple priorities and timelines. Uses strong technical, problem solving and leadership skills to approach complex projects.
• Communicates internally across the company and externally (with clients, suppliers, etc.) to exchange technical information throughout project phases.
• Actively presents or participates in external communication in professional organization (conferences, articles, etc) 
• Applies deep understanding of project needs and what Clients are looking for to help WOW our clients. Able to step in for Client Managers to maintain client relationships and fulfill duties, as needed, due to the broader understanding of business and Client needs. 
• Occasionally presents or participates in external communication in professional organizations (conferences, articles, etc). 

About You

• B.S. or M.S in Food Science or related discipline.
• 15+ years of food and/or beverage product development with commercialization experience, ideally with experience in new product development
• Demonstration of leadership ability through organization of small teams or projects
• Direct people management experience; especially coaching new team members and experienced technical experts.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Willing to travel domestically and occasionally internationally as required by client and project needs
• Must be a person of high integrity and commitment and possess a strong work ethic
• Ability to lift 30 to 40 lb.

Nice to Have

• Knowledge of Google Sheets, Docs, Slides and ESHA Genesis program
• Committed to personal and professional growth and to the success of our company, clients and fellow employees

Bonus Points

• MBA or business degree.
• Culinary degree, food service or restaurant operations experience
• Production experience
• Quality Assurance experience

What’s in it for You?

A job at Mattson will immerse you in the world of food.  You must be passionate about food and beverage.  The more you can articulate your passion, the more interested we will be in interviewing you.  At Mattson, food is not just our business; it’s our life.

We offer a rich package of benefits, including 401K, health, dental, Health Savings Account, Flexible Spending Account, participation in our ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan), which provides you the opportunity for profit-sharing. Outstanding, delicious breakfast and lunch served fresh every Monday-Friday in our office. Oh and we also like to have fun. It’s food, after all!

We’re located in the San Francisco Bay Area and our office houses a 20,000 square foot food development lab, interactive Food Studio, consumer research facility, and an on-site pilot manufacturing plant. Come join us and see why we’re the greatest thing since sliced bread.