Job Title: Manager, Research & Development (Hard Cheese Category) Our journey revolves around enhancing the lives of Canadians through a rich variety of dairy delights, including some of Canadian’s favourite dairy brands such as Black Diamond Cheese, Lactantia Milk, Astro Yogourt, Balderson Cheese, and Cheestrings. With a 140-year legacy driven by innovation and unwavering quality, we’re seeking like-minded individuals to join us in shaping our next chapter. The incumbent provides technical leadership and specialized knowledge, expertise, and management of research activities to support the Hard cheese volume, profit targets and growth plans.

The position is responsible for the introduction of innovation related to new products, ingredients, technologies, and cost savings initiatives by coordinating team members to deliver project goals. Manage hard cheese product development plans and resources to execute activities of product development initiatives, innovation pipeline projects, formulation optimization opportunities and process technologies to achieve business and strategic priorities. Effectively lead multiple research projects for the R&D; Hard Cheese.

Provide technical direction/interpretation of results to research team to design and execute experiments to meet project commitments. Lead, identify and communicate product development requirements and activities to Leadership Marketing, Sales and R&D.; Communication with key stakeholders purchasing and operations to ensure execution of project plan.

Responsible for costs related to plant trials in support to execute the R&D; SR&ED; program in support of corporate tax initiatives.



Support investigations and collaborate with other Lactalis departments and resources of R&D;, Manufacturing, QFS, and Engineering, purchasing to assess and identify product/production issues and/or opportunities and lead FS development activities in support of the necessary action plan.

Provide

Technical support to Marketing in the development and of the supporting sales documents. In collaboration with Senior Director, R&D-Cheese; and ingredients lead and manage reports including hiring, establishing goals and priorities, providing work direction and reviewing performance including development needs. Collaborate with team members do develop their Individual development plans (IDP) and provide coaching, training focusing on growth opportunities and enhancing engagement for R&D; division and Lactalis as a group.

Provide vision ensuring that each team member is clear on the individual project objectives as well as division and company objectives Promote and enforce activities to maintain a safe and healthy working environment to meet site and corporate safety objectives University degree in Food Science, microbiology, chemistry or related discipline Master’s or PhD in related discipline an asset Minimum ten (10) years experience in dairy or food industry Supervisory experience is an asset. Ability to lead initiatives and project teams.



Application of theories and practice of chemistry/food science/microbiology to improve processes and develop new innovative products.

Thorough knowledge of the dairy product components and their functionality as well as a solid understanding of GMP’s and HACCP specifically in a food production environment Ability to operate standard office applications such as Microsoft Office and email A Performance-Based Bonus System ~4 Weeks of Vacation ~ A Pension Program with an Employer Match at 100% of up to 6% ~ A Volunteer Day to give back to your community ~ Learning and Development opportunities ~ A commitment to internal career advancement with potential for international mobility Our ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) roadmap drives our sustainability mission. We aim to positively impact communities and the planet by enabling stakeholders including our people, consumers, customers, suppliers, dairy farmers, government, and industry partners to have a positive impact on the wellbeing of our communities and the planet through all that we do. We're dedicated to amplifying diverse voices, inviting personal and professional growth, and embracing everyone's true selves.

We're committed to crafting an environment that genuinely welcomes all, reflecting the richness of our people and communities. We apply an equal access to employment program and invite women, aboriginal people, visible minorities, and people with disabilities to apply. If you require accommodation due to a disability (which may be visible or invisible, temporary, or permanent), please inform our Talent Acquisition team – confidentiality will be maintained.

📌 Research & Development (R&D) Manager (Ingleside)
🏢 Lactalis Canada
📍 Ingleside