VP, Science, Technology & Digital

Rich’s, also known as Rich Products Corporation, is a family-owned food company dedicated to inspiring possibilities. From cakes and icings to pizza, appetizers and specialty toppings, our products are used in homes, restaurants and bakeries around the world. Beyond great food, our customers also gain insights to help them stay competitive, no matter their size. Our portfolio includes creative solutions geared at helping food industry professionals compete in foodservice, retail, in-store bakery, deli, and prepared foods, among others. With more than 13,500 associates working globally in 100 countries and annual sales of $5.9 billion, Rich’s is a global leader with a focus on everything that family makes possible. Rich’s®—Infinite Possibilities. One Family.

 
Purpose Statement

The VP, Science, Technology & Digital is the enterprise leader for food science capability, foundational science and technology, and the Research, Innovation and Compliance (RIC) digital agenda. The role establishes the scientific capabilities, technical standards, platforms, and digital infrastructure that enable R&D teams across categories and markets to innovate more effectively, solve complex technical challenges, and accelerate development.
The role provides enterprise leadership across food science and technology while building the digital capabilities—including PLM, digital laboratory tools, and R&D data infrastructure—needed to modernize how RIC develops, manages, and scales innovation.

This role is based at our Global HQ in Buffalo, NY.

Key Accountabilities and Outcomes

Enterprise Food Science & Technology

• Own the enterprise food science capability and technical standards across categories and geographies.
• Establish and advance foundational scientific capabilities, methodologies, standards and best practices across RIC.
• Provide enterprise leadership across food science disciplines such as ingredient functionality, formulation, food chemistry, processing, sensory/product performance and shelf life.
• Identify and translate emerging science and technologies into scalable applications, solutions and growth opportunities.
• Build internal scientific capability and external partnerships that strengthen RIC's technical expertise.

Foundational Science & R&D Support
• Provide foundational science and technology support across all RIC R&D teams, complementing category and market-specific capabilities.
• Serve as an enterprise resource for complex technical challenges requiring deep scientific expertise or cross-category solutions.
• Develop platforms, tools and technologies that can be leveraged across categories and markets.
• Provide strategic oversight of technology programs focused on new growth opportunities.

Digital
• Own and lead the digital RIC agenda, including PLM systems, digital laboratory tools and R&D data infrastructure.
• Establish the strategy and roadmap for digital capabilities supporting research, product development and technical knowledge management.
• Improve R&D data quality, governance and accessibility to enable faster, better technical and innovation decisions.
• Partner with enterprise technology/data teams to integrate RIC capabilities with broader enterprise platforms.
• Evaluate and advance emerging digital, analytics and AI capabilities that can improve R&D productivity and innovation.

Knowledge Management, Intellectual Property and Digital Research Enablement

• Own the enterprise RIC knowledge management strategy, governance, systems, and practices to ensure scientific and technical knowledge is captured, accessible, reusable, and protected.
• Own the enterprise Electronic Laboratory Notebook (ELN) strategy and platform, including governance, adoption, data standards, integration, and continuous improvement.
• Provide enterprise leadership for intellectual property strategy and management within RIC, partnering with Legal and technical teams to identify, protect, govern, and leverage intellectual property arising from research and innovation.
• Establish standards, processes, and governance for technical knowledge capture, retention, and sharing across categories, functions, and regions.
• Ensure digital research systems, knowledge repositories, and intellectual property processes work together to accelerate innovation, strengthen collaboration, and protect enterprise assets.

Enterprise & Organizational Leadership
• Partner with RIC, category and business leaders to establish science and technology priorities aligned with business and innovation strategies.
• Balance enterprise standards and shared capabilities with differing category and market needs.
• Mobilize expertise and resources across organizational and geographic boundaries.
• Build strategic relationships with universities, research institutions, suppliers and technology partners.
• Build and develop strong food science, technology and digital capabilities and talent across RIC.
• Establish governance, decision rights and investment priorities for enterprise science, technology and digital capabilities.

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

• 15+ years of work experience in food science, food technology, R&D or a related technical discipline, ideally within a global food, ingredient or consumer products organization on, including significant progressive leadership experience.
• Leadership of science and technology capabilities spanning multiple categories, businesses and/or geographies.
• Demonstrated experience building or advancing an enterprise technical capability, technology platform or scientific discipline.
• Deep expertise and technical credibility in food science and food technology, including formulation, ingredients, processing and product performance.
• Ability to identify emerging science and technology and translate it into practical applications and business opportunities.
• Strong understanding of digital R&D, including PLM, laboratory tools/systems, R&D data platforms and technical knowledge management.
• Understanding of data architecture, governance and emerging analytics/AI applications within R&D.
• Strong enterprise and systems thinking, with the ability to build scalable capabilities across categories and markets.
• Ability to influence senior R&D, business, technology and functional leaders in a complex global matrix.
• Experience solving complex technical challenges and translating new or emerging technologies into commercial opportunities.
• Meaningful leadership experience with R&D digital transformation, preferably including PLM, digital labs, R&D data infrastructure or comparable scientific systems.
• Experience leading significant cross-functional technology/digital initiatives from strategy through adoption.
• Experience operating in a global matrix and building external scientific and technology partnerships.
• Experience building and developing highly technical/scientific teams.

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COMPENSATION

In accordance with state law, the rate or range provided is Rich Products Corporation, its subsidiaries and affiliates ("Rich's"), reasonable estimate of the base compensation for this role. The actual amount may be higher or lower, based on non-discriminatory factors such as experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, shift differential, and location.

 

Annual Range/Hourly Rate

$229,810.00 - $426,790.00

 

 

 

 

Rich Products Corporation, its subsidiaries and affiliates (“Rich’s”), are committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity, standing up for fairness and maintaining a culture of belonging, to provide an exceptional experience for all. We will not discriminate against an applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, military or veteran status, or any other Federal or State legally protected classes. The information collected by this application is solely to determine suitability for employment, verify identity, and maintain employment statistics on applicants.

 

Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain state or local laws. A reasonable accommodation is a change in the way things are normally done which will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing undue hardship on Rich’s. Please contact Rich’s Associate Experience Network at hrhelp@rich.com if you need assistance completing this application or to otherwise participate in the application process.