Company Overview:

A leading innovator in the development and manufacturing of dietary supplements and custom health products, offering comprehensive solutions across vitamins, minerals, herbs, and supplements (VMHS) as well as Beauty and Ready-to-Drink (RTD) formulations.

Position Title: Research & Development Specialist

Position Overview:

In this role, the R&D Specialist will leverage expertise in product development and formulation science, food safety, and cGMP-compliant manufacturing and sanitation practices to support cross-functional teams, ensuring all products meet the highest quality standards.

Key Responsibilities:

·       Support product development and formulation activities, including bench-top trials, sample preparation, and prototype iterations for dietary supplement products (powders, capsules, tablets, gummies, and liquids).

·       Support with scaling formulations from R&D to production, ensuring alignment with manufacturing capabilities and specifications.

·       Execute and document formulation trials, process validations, and test runs in accordance with established protocols.

·       Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Operations, Quality, and Regulatory) to support product commercialization and continuous improvement initiatives.

·       Ensure all activities are performed in compliance with cGMP standards and internal quality and food safety requirements.

·       Support the evaluation and qualification of raw materials and ingredients, including functionality, compatibility, and quality attributes.

·       Maintain accurate and organized formulation records, batch documentation, and technical data.

·       Support with troubleshooting formulation and production issues, contributing to root cause analysis and corrective actions.

·       Assist with stability studies, product testing, and shelf-life assessments.

·       Follow established sanitation, safety, and laboratory best practices within R&D and pilot environments.

·       Stay informed on industry trends and ingredient innovations to support ongoing product development efforts.

Required Qualifications:

·       Bachelor’s degree in food science, Chemistry, Nutrition, or related scientific fields.

·       2-5 years of hands-on experience in a product development, formulation, or R&D support within dietary supplements, nutraceutical industry, with exposure to U.S. Food and Drug Administration 21 CFR Part 111 requirements.

·       Working knowledge of cGMP regulations and quality systems within a regulated manufacturing environment.

·       Experience supporting bench-top formulation, pilot trials and/or production scale-up activities.

·       Familiarity with dietary supplement dosage forms, including powders, capsules, tablets, gummies and/or liquid formulations.

·       Understanding of ingredient functionality, including actives, excipients, flavor systems, and stability considerations.

·       Ability to accurately document formulation work, batch records, and technical data in a structured and compliant manner.

·       Strong attention to detail with the ability to follow SOPs and technical protocols.

·       Effective communication skills and ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams (R&D, Quality, Operations, and Regulatory).

·       Proficiency in MS Office (Excel, Word, Outlook) or similar tools for documentation data tracking.

Preferred Qualifications:

·       Hands-on experience with multiple dosage forms, including gummies, stick packs, softgels, or ready-to-drink (RTD) formulations.

·       Familiarity with flavor development, taste masking, and sensory evaluation techniques.

·       Experience supporting or participating in scale-up and technology transfer from R&D to commercial manufacturing.

·       Working knowledge of stability testing protocols, shelf-life studies, and analytical testing methods.

·       Exposure to regulatory documentation, including ingredient review, specification sheets, and label claim substantiation.

·       Experience with ERP systems, formulation software, or product lifecycle management (PLM) tools.

·       Understanding of supplier qualification and raw material sourcing processes.

·       Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

Additional Details:

·       Competitive base salary plus performance-based incentives.

·       Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.

·       PTO

·       Corporate Office Located in Tampa, Florida.