Director, R&D – Digital Transformation

Job Description

Job Purpose  

​​The Director, R&D - Digital Transformation is a senior leader responsible for defining the digital transformation strategy for the NA R&D organization and building the capabilities required to deliver it. This is a greenfield role, as the Director will establish the vision, design the operating model, and develop the target-state organizational structure and multi-year resourcing plan needed to scale a high-performing, multidisciplinary Digital R&D function. The role will have three to four direct reports to support our digital transformation agenda, with organizational design and hiring owned directly by this leader. 
 
In practice, the Director leads a centralized Digital NA R&D Hub, partnering with the NAZ Platforms, R&D and IT teams to deploy predictive models, AI-enabled tools, advanced data architectures, and digital twin capabilities that accelerate innovation, reduce physical iteration, and shorten time-to-market. This individual will drive the definition, development and adoption of the new digital workflows and ways of working for the R&D Organization. This leader sits at the intersection of food and materials science, process and packing engineering, data science, and manufacturing and will closely collaborate across functions and disciplines to bring the transformation agenda to reality.  
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Essential Functions & Responsibilities  

• ​​Own the R&D digital transformation agenda. Translate organizational ambition into a phased, prioritized strategic roadmap, defining required capabilities, sequencing investments, and securing senior leadership alignment and resources. Connect the roadmap directly to enterprise value: top-line growth, productivity, sustainability commitments, and time-to-market competitiveness.  

• ​Own organizational design for the NA Digital R&D team. Define the target-state team structure, capability architecture, and workforce plan required to operate at scale. Determine the optimal mix of internal talent, external hires, and strategic partners. Establish hiring profiles and development pathways for a multidisciplinary team spanning data science, ML engineering, and R&D domain expertise, including but not limited to Product Development, Consumer Science, Process and Package Development. 

• ​Lead integration of legacy PLM, ELN, and LIMS systems into a cohesive data platform in partnership with R&D Transformation. Define governance protocols ensuring ingredient specifications, packaging tolerances, sensory data, and process parameters share a universal taxonomy. Establish the data quality standards and ingestion pipelines required to power reliable AI and predictive analytics at scale.  

• ​Lead development and deployment of physics/engineering/chem-based simulation, machine learning, and generative AI models that predict consumer acceptance/behaviors, formulation performance, process behavior, shelf-life, and packaging integrity prior to physical trials. Define MLOps infrastructure and model governance practices to move from proof-of-concept to production-grade tools. Guide build-vs-buy decisions for digital R&D platforms in partnership with IT  

• ​Design and operationalize a scalable Hub-and-Spoke engagement model enabling rapid, repeatable adoption of digital tools across Central and Platform R&D teams. Establish workflows, decision rights, and governance mechanisms to support effective collaboration across geographies and disciplines.  

• ​Recruit, develop, and retain professionals who can translate between scientific problem statements and digital solutions. Champion digital fluency across the broader R&D organization through training, embedded Spoke partnerships, and storytelling that connects digital tools to commercial outcomes. 

• ​Serve as the senior advocate for digital R&D transformation. Build cross-functional coalitions with R&D, Operations, IT, Marketing, and Quality. Drive adoption through proof-of-concept delivery, measurable value creation, and consistent executive engagement. ​ 

People Management Responsibilities 

• Team (salaried): 2 to 4 direct reports. 

Key Outputs & Deliverables  

•  Innovation Velocity & Market Impact  

• Time-to-Market Reduction: Decrease in idea-to-commercialization cycle time for new product development and packaging transitions. Reduce number of line trials and associated cost. 

• Agile Sprint Velocity: Digital innovation sprints completed per quarter resulting in a viable commercial brief 

• Right-First-Time: Increase overall quality of delivery of projects, measured as % of right first time initiatives to market (no intervention needed after launch)  

• Organizational Design & Capability Build  

• Org Design Completion: Approved future-state organizational structure and resourcing roadmap delivered within 12 months 

• Transformation Roadmap Adoption: Executive-aligned digital R&D strategy approved within 6 months 

• Resource Efficiency & Predictive Accuracy 

• Physical Iteration Reduction: Decrease in benchtop iterations or pilot plant/plant trial runs required per project, and associated cost and resource reduction 

• Model Correlation: Statistical correlation between digital twin/simulation model outcomes and actual physical results 

• Organizational Adoption & Data Quality 

• Spoke Utilization Rate: Percentage of active R&D projects incorporating predictive modeling or digital sensory analysis into their stage-gate process. 

• Data Quality Index: Rolling metric measuring completeness, accuracy, and standardization of data ingested into the central ontology 

Expected Experience & Required Skills 

• ​​Bachelor’s degree in engineering, data science, computer science, food science, or a related technical field with 17 years of relevant experience OR Master’s degree with 16 years of relevant experience OR PhD with 15 years of relevant experience 

• ​12+ years leading digital, analytics, or advanced technology initiatives within R&D, manufacturing, or product development, with demonstrated growth in scope and organizational impact 

• ​Proven track record defining , not just executing, digital transformation strategy in a complex, matrixed CPG or food & beverage environment 

• ​Demonstrated experience in organizational design and workforce planning: building team structures, hiring roadmaps, and scaling functions from early stage to operational maturity 

• ​Experience managing and interacting in multidisciplinary teams  

• ​Deep technical fluency in one or more of the following: food science, product development, chemical/mechanical engineering, and/or packaging development 

• ​Strong foundational knowledge of machine learning, generative AI, computational modeling, and modern data architecture (data lakes, data mesh, MLOps) 

• ​Familiarity with R&D enterprise systems (PLM, ELN, LIMS) and associated data interoperability challenges 

• ​Ability to define a compelling transformation vision and connect R&D capability directly to enterprise value 

• ​Skilled at navigating legacy corporate cultures, aligning cross-functional stakeholders, and establishing clear decision rights over data governance and digital protocols 

• ​Entrepreneurial orientation: comfortable with ambiguity, building from scratch, and making sound decisions with incomplete information 

• ​Executive presence sufficient to influence at the senior executive level and represent the digital R&D agenda with external partners and industry peers​ 

Work Environment & Schedule 

This position operates primarily in a hybrid work environment and is based at the Kraft Heinz R&D Innovation Center located in Glenview, IL. Our hybrid model provides flexibility based on business needs, allowing employees to work virtually up to two days per week, with an expectation to work on-site at least three days per week at the Glenview Innovation Center.  

Offering Sponsorship: We’re able to offer sponsorship for this role.  

Our Total Rewards philosophy is to provide a meaningful and flexible spectrum of programs that equitably support our diverse workforce and their families and complement Kraft Heinz’ strategy and values.

New Hire Base Salary Range:

Bonus: This position is eligible for a performance-based bonus as provided by the plan terms and governing documents.

The compensation offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors

Long-Term Incentive (LTI): In addition to base salary and bonus, this role is eligible for additional compensation in the form of equity.

Benefits: Coverage for employees (and their eligible dependents) through affordable access to healthcare, protection, and saving for the future, we offer plans tailored to meet you and your family’s needs. Coverage for benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents.

Wellbeing: We offer events, resources, and learning opportunities that inspire a physical, social, emotional, and financial well-being lifestyle for our employees and their families.

You’ll be able to participate in a variety of benefits and wellbeing programs that may vary by role, country, region, union status, and other employment status factors, for example:

• Physical - Medical, Prescription Drug, Dental, Vision, Screenings/Assessments

• Social - Paid Time Off, Company Holidays, Leave of Absence, Flexible Work Arrangements, Recognition, Training

• Emotional – Employee Assistance Program , Wellbeing Programs, Family Support Programs

• Financial – 401k, Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Disability

Location(s)

Kraft Heinz is an Equal Opportunity Employer that prohibits discrimination or harassment of any type. All qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Applicants who require an accommodation to participate in the job application or hiring process should contact NAZTAOps@kraftheinz.com.