Full-Time

Senior Manager

R&D and Innovation, Private Label + Emerging Brands

Riverside Natural Foods

Riverside Natural Foods

501-1,000 employees

Manufactures and markets healthy snack products

Compensation Overview

CA$140k - CA$155k/yr

+ RRSP matching + Profit Sharing Plan

North York, ON, Canada

In Person

Regular travel to manufacturing and co-manufacturing sites is required, including occasional national and international travel (5–10%).

Bachelor's, Master's

Category
Product (1)

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Requirements
  • 10–15 years of consumer packaged goods experience in Research and Development and/or Technical Innovation.
  • A post-secondary degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Engineering, Chemistry, Biology, Microbiology, or a related field.
  • Demonstrated leadership and/or management capabilities.
  • Demonstrated experience in new product development from ideation through launch.
  • Demonstrated experience working in food manufacturing facilities.
  • Effective management skills and the ability to work on and lead a diverse team.
  • Strong communication and critical thinking skills.
  • A strong technical foundation in formulation, industrial manufacturing, sensory science, technical documentation, food safety, and innovation.
  • Ability to travel regularly to Riverside manufacturing sites in the Toronto/Vaughan area, co-manufacturing sites across North America, and occasionally nationally and internationally (5–10%).
Responsibilities
  • Lead the technical new product development process for Private Brands and Emerging Brands from internal or external brief and bid response through first production, ensuring adherence to strategy, food safety programs, timelines, cost of goods sold, target attributes and parameters, and sustainability goals.
  • Partner with senior colleagues in Marketing, Sales, Finance, and Operations on innovation and portfolio strategy and ensure the three-year product pipeline is sufficient to meet gross sales value targets.
  • Provide technical leadership in ingredient functionality, manufacturing processes, technical troubleshooting, and scientific rigour across innovation and Research and Development activities.
  • Foster a culture of innovation within the Private Label and Emerging Brands team and drive the ideation process.
  • Lead strategic risk assessment, mitigation planning, and risk communication for innovation and Research and Development initiatives.
  • Seek partnerships with ingredient and equipment suppliers to explore innovative ingredients, processes, relationships, and technologies.
  • Build a network of co-manufacturing partners, vet partners for technical suitability and new product development collaboration, and ensure final products meet product specifications.
  • Champion continuous improvement by evaluating product and process improvements, efficiencies, and better ways of working using performance indicators.
  • Lead and develop a team of food science professionals, supporting technical and leadership decisions and providing personal development support.
  • Develop and coach the team through project strategies, resource plans, and execution roadmaps for complex innovation initiatives.
  • Serve as a technical advisor to internal and external partners using current food technology and trends.
  • Monitor emerging trends, technologies, and the competitive landscape in the food industry, especially the snack category, and use research and learnings to improve products or develop new concepts.
  • Collaborate with Research and Development, Packaging Research and Development, Food Safety and Quality Assurance, and Regulatory functions to share technical knowledge, improve processes, and strengthen scientific and technical expertise.
  • Represent the brand in interactions, decisions, and deliverables by protecting product quality, availability, and consumer experience.
Desired Qualifications
  • A Master's degree in Science, Business, Leadership, Entrepreneurship, or a related field.
Riverside Natural Foods

Riverside Natural Foods

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Riverside Natural Foods makes and distributes healthier snack products under the MadeGood brand, handling research, creation, manufacturing, marketing and selling. MadeGood snacks are developed through research and produced as consumer-ready packaged snacks with healthy ingredients. The company differentiates itself with B Corporation and Zero Waste certifications and by acting as a hub for ongoing innovation in healthy snacking, linking product quality to environmental and community impact. Its goal is to provide credible, healthier snack options while leaving a positive footprint on the environment and communities.

Company Size

501-1,000

Company Stage

Grant

Total Funding

$8.5M

Headquarters

Vaughan, Canada

Founded

2013

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • LinkedIn listed 27 active 2026 jobs, showing continued hiring across operations and sales.
  • A 2026 territory-manager posting says Riverside wants to double business by 2027.
  • Amcor's packaging collaboration supports premiumization and retailer differentiation in shelf-stable bars.

What critics are saying

  • December 2024 metal recall covered 2,408,883 cases, signaling serious manufacturing-control failures.
  • CFIA and FDA recall files stayed active through 2026, prolonging retailer scrutiny and replenishment risk.
  • Single-brand dependence on MadeGood creates existential damage if trust erosion cuts repeat purchases.

What makes Riverside Natural Foods unique

  • MadeGood's organic, allergen-conscious snack brand remains Riverside's clearest consumer moat.
  • April 3, 2025 Amcor launch gave MadeGood Trail Mix bars curbside-recyclable paper packaging.
  • Riverside says it is an 'early applicant' employer with 691 employees in March 2026.

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Benefits

Wellness Program

Mental Health Support

Conference Attendance Budget

Professional Development Budget

RRSP matching or 401k matching

401(k) Company Match

401(k) Retirement Plan

Tuition Reimbursement

Home Office Stipend

Phone/Internet Stipend

Hybrid Work Options

Remote Work Options

Flexible Work Hours

Paid Vacation

Paid Sick Leave

Paid Holidays

Parental Leave

Family Planning Benefits

Fertility Treatment Support

Stock Options

Company Equity

401(k) Retirement Plan

RRSP matching or 401k matching

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

0%

1 year growth

0%

2 year growth

0%
Packaging Gateway
Apr 4th, 2025
Riverside Natural Foods selects Amcor's packaging for MadeGood Trail Mix bars

Riverside Natural Foods has collaborated with Amcor to introduce Riverside's MadeGood Trail Mix bars in Amcor's AmFiber paper-based packaging solution.

NBC Boston
Feb 15th, 2025
FDA updates MadeGood granola bar recall to Class II

Riverside Natural Foods, Inc. preemptively issued a voluntary recall of 2,408,883 cases of MadeGood granola bars on Dec. 9, 2024.

Top Class Actions
Dec 23rd, 2024
MadeGood granola bars class action claims product may contain metal

Who: A MadeGood granola bar consumer is suing Riverside Natural Foods Inc.

Boston 25 News
Dec 12th, 2024
Riverside Natural Foods Inc. issues recall for granola bar products for chance of metal in product

Riverside Natural Foods Inc. issues recall for granola bar products for chance of metal in product.

WSMV-TV
Dec 11th, 2024
Recall issued for MadeGood granola bars

On Monday, Riverside Natural Foods Inc. announced it was voluntarily recalling certain batches of its MadeGood bars for the "potential presence of a piece of metal in the product."