Research Development Laboratory Manager (Brooklyn)

*This is NOT a job at ForceBrands* R&D Manager – Beverage Formulation & Lab Operations Our client, a high-growth beverage development company, is hiring an R&D Manager who will serve as the lead formulator and technical expert while supporting lab operations and team development. This is a hands-on role for someone who thrives at the bench, enjoys solving complex formulation challenges, and wants to play a key role in building structure within a fast-paced, client-driven environment. What You’ll Do: Lead hands-on beverage formulation, including benchtop development, troubleshooting, and optimization Act as the technical expert in client-facing conversations, guiding formulation decisions and managing expectations Support lab operations across several concurrent projects, helping improve workflows and communication from kickoff through delivery Mentor and support formulators, elevating technical capabilities and consistency of output Collaborate cross-functionally with sourcing and operations to align formulations with ingredient availability and commercialization pathways Contribute to building and improving SOPs, documentation, and lab systems/tools Support scale-up considerations and work with co-manufacturers as needed What We’re Looking For: Bachelor’s degree in Food Science or related field (Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, etc.) Strong hands-on beverage formulation experience (RTD required; RTM powders strongly preferred) Experience working in a lab environment (formulation lab, pilot plant, or similar) Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment Experience working cross-functionally with R&D, sourcing, and/or operations teams Comfortable in client-facing settings as a technical expert Nice-to-Haves: Experience mentoring or leading junior formulators Exposure to scale-up, pilot production, or co-manufacturing Experience improving processes, SOPs, or lab systems Who You Are: A formulator first, with strong technical depth and curiosity Hands-on, adaptable, and solutions-oriented Comfortable operating in a growing, evolving environment Excited to take ownership and have a direct impact on both product and process