Product Development Specialist I

Grand River Foods is a leading food solutions company serving customers in the North American grocery and food service industry. As a member of the Sunrise Farm family, we remain as dedicated as ever to both providing a quality work environment for our employees, as well as producing only the highest quality products for our customers. We are known for the great care we take with clients and employees alike.

The successful candidate will be a pleasant professional with good communication skills, be detail-oriented and highly organized, interacting with all departments including Sales, Production, Scheduling, Quality Assurance, Marketing, Procurement, as well as Suppliers and Customers. A background in food science, culinary or relevant food production experience is a must. The primary function involves leading new product development, re-development of existing products and optimization of processes through all development stages from concept to launch.

Development of new products to meet customer needs from conceptualization to finished product launch.

Coordination of all technical information.

Maintenance of all technical data in an organized and easily accessible manner.

Work alongside the Sales department to provide documentation, data and samples of product as required. Ensure all projects are compliant with internal policies, governmental regulatory policies and laws as well as customer specifications and expectations. Responsible for interpretation and application of relevant regulations/policies/guidelines (e.g. Food and Drug Regulations, Guide to Food Labelling and Advertising, NHP regulations, Processed Products regulations, Advertising Standards of Canada code, etc.) Development of label copy documents such as ingredient lists, nutrient content claims, health claims, etc.

Provide advice and counsel to Sales, Operations, and Purchasing on the regulatory facts, challenges and opportunities for any new formulation or changes.

Assist in conducting product evaluations of competitive products and all current project samples as each project progresses toward launch.

Post-secondary education in Food Science, Science, Engineering, Culinary or a related field

Minimum 5 years’ experience in a R&D/ Product Development role in the food industry

Must work closely with Management, Sales, Production, and Quality teams.

High proficiency in Word, Excel, and Outlook as well as label software and GENESIS

Self-starter who is very passionate about product development

Creative and flexible to learn and bring on new ideas.

Commitment to quality and continuous improvement in all aspects of the business.

Project Management skills

Ability to work with minimal supervision

Varying schedule with overtime required

Works with raw food product and meat

Work environment is divided between the test kitchen, computer station and time spent on the plant floor. Occasional visits to customers and suppliers.

Self Development:

Willing to upgrade and/or maintain their skill level and knowledge by attending seminars, training sessions, symposiums, batter/breading school, etc.

Keeps abreast of upcoming changes in the food manufacturing market by reading sector magazines, internet updates on government legislation, etc.

#All qualified individuals, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or any other identifying characteristic are encouraged to apply.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.