Mgr Technical Product Development & Optimization

The Hershey Company is an industry-leading snacks company known for making more moments of goodness through its iconic brands. With a strong portfolio across chocolate, confectionery, and salty snacks, Hershey delights consumers every day. Our beloved brands include Hershey's, Reese's, KitKat, Dots Pretzels, Lesser Evil, Jolly Rancher, Twizzlers, Ice Breakers, and more.

At Hershey, we are committed to making a meaningful difference in the communities where we live, work, and do business. This commitment originated with our founder, Milton Hershey, and continues to shape who we are today.

Guided by our employee value proposition, Lead Today. Create Tomorrow, we empower our people to drive impact now while shaping what comes next. Our One Hershey mindset brings teams together across functions, geographies, and businesses, enabling us to operate with speed, collaboration, and shared purpose.

The Hershey Company is proud to be recognized as a top employer in the United States, reflecting our commitment to our people, culture, and purpose.

The Manager, Protein Product Development leads the Protein Product Development team within Protein & Functional Snacking R&D, driving technical development and optimization across Hershey's growing protein portfolio. This role translates consumer insights, business priorities, and market trends into technical strategies that deliver safe, compliant, manufacturable, and consumer-loved products.

As a people leader, you will guide innovation from concept through commercialization while building team capability and advancing Hershey's protein platform across formats including bars and powders.

- Lead the technical development of protein innovation and renovation projects from concept through commercialization.

- Drive formulation, ingredient functionality, sensory optimization, process development, pilot trials, scale-up, and manufacturing startup activities.

- Partner closely with Marketing, Consumer Insights, Manufacturing, Engineering, Procurement, Quality, and Regulatory teams to accelerate project execution and portfolio delivery.

- Provide technical leadership, risk assessments, and recommendations to support stage-gate decisions and business prioritization.

- Manage, coach, and develop a team of scientists and technical professionals, aligning resources across multiple programs and priorities.

- Mentor team members in formulation, experimental design, and technical problem solving while supporting career growth and development.

- Identify technical bottlenecks and capability gaps, implementing improvements that enhance product development speed, rigor, and efficiency.

- Strengthen development processes, documentation practices, prototyping approaches, external partnerships, and cross-functional ways of working.

- Build organizational capability by expanding expertise across protein technologies, ingredients, and product formats.

- Minimum 5+ years of progressive product development experience in food, beverage, or consumer packaged goods R&D preferred.

- Proven experience leading technical programs and influencing cross-functional teams.

- Demonstrated people leadership experience, including coaching, mentoring, and developing scientists and technical support staff.

- Experience commercializing products from benchtop development through pilot plant and full-scale manufacturing.

- Strong understanding of food safety, regulatory, and labeling requirements.

- Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Chemical Engineering, Food Engineering, or a related technical discipline required.

- Strong expertise in protein-based product development, including protein ingredient functionality, texture optimization, shelf-life performance, and sensory quality.

- Experience across multiple protein formats, including bars and powders.

- Advanced experimental design, analytical problem solving, and data-driven decision-making skills.

- Experience managing external partners, co-manufacturers, and ingredient suppliers.

- Familiarity with stage-gate innovation processes and project management systems.

- Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate complex technical concepts for diverse audiences and senior leadership.

At Hershey, we offer competitive pay and a comprehensive total rewards package designed to support your wellbeing, financial security, and life outside of work.

- Health & Wellbeing: Medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus wellness programs that support your physical and mental health

- Financial Security: Competitive pay, annual incentive opportunities, and a 401(k) with company match

- Time Off & Flexibility: Paid time off, company holidays, and flexible ways of working where applicable

- Growth & Development: Career development programs, learning opportunities, and internal mobility