Director of Bakery Science & Innovation

Dawn Foods is a global leader in bakery manufacturing and ingredients distribution, recognized for its commitment to quality and innovation in the food industry. Established as a family-owned business for over 100 years, Dawn Foods has built a reputation as the partner of choice for inspiring bakery success. The company focuses on helping customers grow their business through meaningful partnerships, research-driven insights, and product innovations backed by expert knowledge. Dawn Foods operates as a trusted supplier of bakery ingredients and services, serving a wide range of customers including retail, foodservice, and industrial bakery sectors. With a culture rooted deeply in its corporate values and commitment to people and products, the company provides a supportive and empowering work environment that fosters professional growth and development.

The position of Director of Bakery Science and Innovation at Dawn Foods is a pivotal role responsible for leading the development and implementation of key scientific and engineering activities within the company, particularly in the bakery science and packaging engineering domains. This role involves overseeing long-term regional innovation strategies and ensuring alignment with global innovation projects. The Director will work closely with the Global Innovation team to prioritize and leverage innovations from Europe and Latin America for North America’s market, contributing to Dawn Foods’ competitive edge. The role is hybrid, based in either Jackson, Michigan or Louisville, Kentucky, with up to 20 percent travel required, and relocation assistance may be available for qualified candidates.

In this leadership position, the Director is expected to transform Dawn Foods' understanding of baking science by integrating ingredient science, processing technology, and equipment interactions to create added value and differentiation in the marketplace. Supervisory responsibilities include managing a team of food scientists and packaging engineers, guiding professional development, and fostering a culture of scientific excellence and accountability. The role demands solid business acumen to bridge technology capabilities with business opportunities, and to apply scientific understanding to resolve quality issues, optimize manufacturing processes, and drive cost efficiencies. The Director will also promote the company’s philosophies and policies, supporting its Circle of Excellence, while leading cross-functional projects that enhance product quality and performance.

This career opportunity at Dawn Foods offers competitive compensation, including a base salary range from $124,750 to $212,070 plus bonus potential, along with industry-leading health insurance from day one, 401(k) with company match, paid company holidays, paid time off, and extensive professional training programs. As a family-owned company with a century-long legacy, Dawn Foods emphasizes a nurturing work culture, offering employees career advancement and the chance to work within a highly motivated and collaborative workforce. Candidates who bring expertise in food science, material science, or related fields, along with experience in leadership, processing research and development, and innovation management, will find this role both challenging and rewarding within a respected global food industry leader.