R&D Manager

Company: Abel & Schafer Inc.
Location: Bohemia
Posted on: February 17, 2026

Job Description:

Job Description Job Description For almost 130 years, Abel & Schafer has been producing baked goods in Europe under the KOMPLET brand name. In 1982 the company established a manufacturing facility in Ronkonkoma, NY to serve the fast-growing markets of the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central/South America, and the Caribbean. To support our continuous growth in these markets, we are currently recruiting a Research & Development Manager who will take full responsibility over all bread and pastry R&D projects and take the lead in developing new product ideas and concepts. Key Job Responsibilities: · Manage all bread and pastry R&D projects. · Develop product (re)formulations and recipes. · Develop strong cross-functional relationships with the R&D community as well as with Marketing, Sales, Quality, Operations, Engineering, Regulatory, and others. · Evaluate new ingredients, materials, products and processes with an emphasis on NAFNAC and clean label solutions. · Execute pilot lab runs, consumer tests, plant trials and validation trials. · Prepare operating guidelines for product development and ensure a proper documentation flow. · Generate recipes and supporting documentation for lab samples, such as sample request forms and project labels. · Participate in resolution of complaints and QA cases. · Generate re-work recipes when necessary. · Lead special projects concerning products, processes, equipment, and facility concepts and design. · Generate Signum Projects and project labels. · Participate in Food Safety Team meetings. · Manage time effectively and deliver projects on time and in full. Qualification: · B.S. degree in Bakery Science, Food Sciences, Food Engineering, or related scientific field. · Master Baker or Pastry chef certification. · 5 years’ experience in formulation of bakery products. · 5 years leadership experience. · Excellent organizational and communication (written and oral) skills. · Excellent project management skills with ability to prioritize multiple activities simultaneously. · Proficient with Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams). · Willing to travel as required. · Language skills: English; knowledge of Spanish and/or German a plus.

Keywords: Abel & Schafer Inc., New Britain , R&D Manager, Science, Research & Development , Bohemia, Connecticut