Director of Research Development

The Crump Group Inc. is a family-owned and operated leader pet treat manufacturer located in Mississauga, Ontario and Nashville, North Carolina. Since 2006, we have launched and developed Caledon Farms, Crumps’ Naturals, and Dog Delights, premium natural pet treat brands with distribution throughout Canada and the United States. We’ve outgrown our family garage, but our values remain the same!

We’re seeking a dynamic, results-driven Director of Research & Development to inspire, lead, and manage a professional team of R&D scientists at our facilities in the US and Canada. This role is pivotal in driving innovation in the fast-growing pet food category and shaping our strategy across North America. This is an exciting opportunity to lead groundbreaking R&D initiatives in pet nutrition, drive innovation that meets consumer needs and exceeds expectations and shape the future of our brand portfolio in a rapidly expanding market.

The ideal candidate is a customer-focused leader with deep expertise in pet food, a passion for companion animal health, and an understanding of the needs of pets and their parents. You’ll leverage technical and strategic thinking to transform consumer insights, science, and technology into successful product innovations.

As R&D Director, you will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams—including Regulatory, Marketing, Sales, Customer Service, Quality Assurance, and Operations—to deliver products that delight pet parents and strengthen trust in our brands. Reporting to the VP of Operations, you’ll play a key role in building brands that pet owners love.

Job Description :

• Apply scientific principles and creative thinking to develop innovative, healthy pet food and treat products that meet unmet consumer needs.
• Stay informed on competitive products, ingredient and processing technologies, retailer trends, and emerging consumer insights to guide product direction.
• Lead all technical aspects of formulation and product development, ensuring timely completion of project deliverables.
• Create and maintain accurate formulation and finished product specifications.
• Oversee sensory / palatability testing, shelf-life and stability studies, and other critical technical evaluations in partnership with QA.
• Prepare and contribute to technical proposals, reports, presentations, and summaries for internal and external stakeholders.
• Collaborate effectively across functions—including Marketing, Sales, Regulatory, Customer Service, QA, and Operations—to achieve shared objectives.
• Implement scalable processes to continuously improve product quality, food safety, and operational efficiency.
• Provide technical expertise and support to Sales and Marketing teams as needed.
• Engage in ongoing professional development through industry forums, trade shows, and educational opportunities.

Recipe for Success :

A Few Extra Ingredients :

Why Join The Crump Group :

Our Core Values :

1. We embody an entrepreneurial mindset.

2. We act with compassion.

3. We act with Integrity.

4. We put quality first.

5. We work as a cohesive team.

6. We embrace agility and adaptability.

The Crump Group USA provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

We thank all applicants for their interest in exploring employment opportunities with The Crump Group; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Applicants may be subject to a criminal background check, and must meet the security criteria designated for the position.