Vice President, Research & Development - Hispanic Foods

Our client is one of the fastest-growing Hispanic food platforms in the U.S., recently acquired by a global food group. They are looking for aVice President of Research & Developmentto own the innovation agenda and technical product strategy for the business. This executive will lead all core R&D functions — innovation management, new product development, formulation, process commercialization, packaging development, and regulatory compliance — for a portfolio of authentic, high-quality Hispanic foods. The role is designed for a commercially minded innovation leader who can build scalable capabilities while accelerating growth. Working closely with Marketing, Sales, Operations, Supply Chain and Quality, the VP of R&D will strengthen the company's ability to bring products to market with greater speed, consistency, and strategic focus. Reporting Structure Direct Report: Global Head of R&D, Holding GroupDotted-Line Reporting: CEO, U.S. Business Unit Executive Exposure: N-1 to Global CEOThis structure reflects the strategic visibility and enterprise-wide impact associated with the position.

The VP of R&D will lead a lean, agile, and high-impact technical organization, including: Culinary Innovation / Chef Packaging Manager Product Development Leaders / Food Scientists Technical and commercialization support staff Education & Professional Experience Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, Chemistry, Microbiology, or related technical discipline requiredMBA, MS, or PhD preferred Critical Success Factors 15 years of progressive leadership experience within R&D, innovation, or product development in the food or CPG industry Proven experience leading products from concept development through industrial commercialization Strong background within U.S. food manufacturing and commercialization environments Demonstrated success managing multidisciplinary technical and cross-functional teams Strong understanding of Hispanic foods, culinary authenticity, and culturally relevant consumer trends Ability to connect innovation strategy with revenue growth, profitability, and operational performance Executive presence with the ability to operate effectively in both strategic and hands-on environments Strong curiosity for emerging technologies, ingredients, consumer behaviors, and sustainability trends Experience building external partnerships to accelerate innovation capabilities and market responsiveness Exceptional cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder management skills Ability to lead organizational changes within a fast-growing and evolving business environment Strong decision-making capabilities, prioritization skills, and business judgment Balanced leadership style combining entrepreneurial agility with operational discipline Why This Role? Opportunity to lead the transformation of a growing and strategically important R&D organization High visibility with executive leadership and direct exposure to global decision-makers Ability to shape innovation within a fast-growing Hispanic-inspired food platform Opportunity to build scalable innovation processes within a company entering its next phase of expansion