Location: Stoney Creek

The Company: Our client is a well-established commercial bakery headquartered in Hamilton, Ontario. They are a growth-oriented manufacturer with a solid market presence and an entrepreneurial culture that genuinely values innovation.

The Opportunity: This is a rare chance to own the entire product development mandate — not inherit it.

You will be the company's primary R&D; resource, with full accountability for new product development, formulation, commercialization, and continuous improvement.

Over time, as the business scales, you will have the opportunity to build and lead a team beneath you. If you've been looking for a role where your fingerprints are on the innovation strategy from day one, this is it.

Job Duties & Responsibilities:

Lead end-to-end product development across the full bakery portfolio — cakes, pastries, sweet goods, and adjacent categories — from concept through commercial launch

Drive reformulation, cost optimization, ingredient substitutions, and process improvements that impact yield, consistency, and margin

Conduct bench trials, plant trials, and scale-up activities in close collaboration with Operations and Quality

Translate customer briefs and market signals into commercially viable product solutions

Support sales presentations, customer-facing tastings, and innovation meetings

Maintain full technical documentation for both Canadian and U.S. regulatory requirements

Cultivate supplier relationships and collaborate with Procurement on ingredient sourcing and alternatives





Act as a cross-functional partner to Sales, Operations, Quality, and senior leadership

Ideal Qualifications & Competencies:

Degree or diploma in Food Science, Food Engineering, Chemistry, or a related discipline

5+ years of R&D; or product development experience within commercial baking or food manufacturing

Deep knowledge of bakery ingredient functionality, current vendor landscape, shelf life, food safety, and production processes

Proven experience taking products from benchtop to full commercial scale

Working knowledge of CFIA and FDA labeling regulations, nutritional requirements, and food safety standards

Experience preparing specs, nutritional panels, and technical documentation

Familiarity with ERP systems and nutrition software is a plus

Strong project management skills with the ability to manage competing priorities without losing momentum

A self-starter mindset — hands-on, solutions-focused, and comfortable operating with autonomy

Why This Role High visibility. Real ownership. A direct line to leadership and a genuine path to building and leading your own team as the function grows.

If you're energized by the idea of shaping innovation culture from the ground up inside a business that's ready to invest in it — we'd like to hear from you.

Confidential search — employer details shared with qualified candidates upon initial conversation.

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply directly or reach out confidentially.

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📌 Product Development Manager - Bakery (Hamilton)
🏢 CPG Executive Search
📍 Hamilton