Who is Cafe Bakery
Since 1987, the team at Cafe Valley has produced muffins, bundt cakes, ring cakes, turnovers, and croissants for our customers throughout the United States and across the world. Our products are made with high-quality ingredients and crafted with care. We strive to maintain a positive work environment and foster a culture of teamwork and innovation.
Who You Are
The Research & Development Director supports Café Valley by creating innovative products, enhancing existing ones, and refining the manufacturing processes to ensure we produce the very best. Expertise in bakery research and development will be your superpower, enabling you to swiftly drive projects from prototype to market-ready solutions. Heavy hands-on benchtop work as an individual contributor who is part of a collective team.
Location
This position works on-site 5 days a week at our Phoenix plant. Relocation is provided.
What You Will Get
- Competitive salary
- Paid time off
- 401(k) plan with generous match
- Benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, life, and other supplemental coverages
Responsibilities
What You Will Do
Own the development, formulation, and build of new bakery products, ensuring they meet company standards for quality, taste, and functionalityPlan, execute, and oversee plant trials (sample runs) to evaluate the viability and scalability of new products in the manufacturing environmentCollaborate with manufacturing teams to address and resolve any issues that arise during trial runsEnsure successful transition from pilot scale to full-scale productionPrepare and maintain comprehensive product documentation, including vendor briefs, plant trial briefs, finished product specifications, ingredient lists, and Bills of Materials (BOMs)Ensure all product documentation is accurate, up-to-date, and meets regulatory and quality standardsResearch new product ingredients and suppliers to source high-quality materialsConduct ingredient evaluations and quality assessmentsWork closely with Marketing, Quality Assurance, Purchasing / Inventory, and other departments to ensure alignment and support for new product initiativesCommunicate effectively with stakeholders to provide updates on project status and resolve any issues that ariseManage multiple product development projects simultaneously, ensuring timelines and milestones are metUtilize project management tools and techniques to track progress and coordinate activitiesPerform all related duties as required; related duties may not be specifically listed but are within the general occupational responsibility level typically associated with the employee’s classification of workRequired Skills
What You Need to Be Successful
Ability to work with or around bakery allergens of all typesAt least 10 years of R&D experience in bakery manufacturingWork experience as a professional pastry chef / baker in large-scale bakery manufacturingDemonstrated technical achievement in the development of laminated dough (i.e., croissants) and batter-based products (i.e., muffins) for the bakery service and in-store bakery marketsAIB certification in bakingStrong understanding of bakery formulation, ingredient functionality, and bakery processingExcellent project management skills with the ability to handle multiple projects and ability to meet deadlinesStrong analytical and problem-solving skills with a keen attention to detailExcellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across teams and departmentsProficiency in Microsoft Office and familiarity with product development software and toolsCafe Valley is an equal-opportunity employer and is committed to diversity in the workplace. We encourage applications from qualified individuals regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
