Executive Assistant of Research & Development in Salisbury

Perdue Foods has a goal of becoming the most trusted name in premium proteins by creating products for consumers and for retail and foodservice customers around the globe while changing the way animals are raised for food. It is part of Perdue Farms, a fourth-generation, family-owned food and agricultural business deeply rooted in tradition yet with a forward-thinking mindset. We believe that success starts with our people, and our culture is built on a foundation of teamwork, integrity, and respect, where every voice matters and everyone is encouraged to contribute to our shared goals. We are dedicated to creating a supportive, inclusive environment where associates feel valued and inspired to make an impact, both within the company and in the communities we serve. From promoting growth and development to prioritising work-life balance, we’re committed to helping our team members thrive.

Summary: Drive innovation and operational excellence by supporting executive leadership at the centre of research and development initiatives. As the Executive Assistant of Research & Development, you will provide high level administrative and operational support to the SVP of R&D and the Perdue R&D Innovation Center, helping ensure seamless coordination across scientific, technical, and cross-functional teams. You will play a critical role in managing executive communications, coordinating projects and departmental operations, and handling highly confidential research and innovation materials with professionalism and discretion. This role is ideal for a highly organized, proactive professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment, excels at managing competing priorities, and enjoys serving as a trusted partner to executive leadership and key stakeholders across the organization.

This position has a target wage of $34.00- $51.00 per hour, based on shift, experience and qualifications with annual bonus available (variable depending on performance). Overtime may be available. In addition to hourly wages, Perdue offers a competitive benefits package, including medical/Rx, 401(k) with employer match after 1 year, critical illness, accident insurance, dental, vision, life insurance, optional group life insurance, short-term and long-term disability protection, flexible spending accounts and paid time off.

Principal Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Manage correspondence, document routing, calls, and file organization.
• Schedule R&D meetings, including project reviews and leadership sessions.
• Coordinate travel, itineraries for SVP and senior leaders, and logistics for internal and external events.
• Prepare executive reports, presentations, and project summaries.
• Maintain organization and adapt to shifting R&D priorities.
• Support accurate document control for sensitive materials.
• Serve as the main liaison for the SVP with internal teams and external partners.
• Track deadlines, provide reminders, and prepare materials.
• Prepare briefing documents and pre-reads for executive meetings.
• Improve departmental processes, templates, and workflows.
• Manage complex executive calendars and meeting-space scheduling.
• Draft and edit executive communications and presentations.
• Track R&D initiatives, milestones, and deliverables.
• Coordinate department events such as Town Halls and capability forums.
• Organize logistics for cross-functional collaborations.
• Support onboarding for new team members.
• Maintain scientific and technical repositories and archives.
• Ensure proper handling of confidential and proprietary information.
• Format and route technical reports and regulatory documents.
• Lead R&D leadership meeting administration (agendas, minutes, action items).
• Manage R&D and Innovation Center calendars of events.
• Support special projects and team onboarding.
• Track departmental budgets, POs, invoices, and expenses.
• Coordinate supplier meetings and external collaborations.
• Support resource needs, equipment service, and supply orders.
• Manage PO creation, invoice processing, and financial documentation.
• Maintain accurate financial records and audit materials.
• Anticipate leadership needs and prepare materials proactively.
• Support board-level and executive updates related to R&D strategy.
• Maintain confidential dashboards and tracking documents.
• Build strong relationships with administrative and executive assistants across the organization.
• Coordinate communication and workflow between the SVP and senior executives.
• Handle sensitive information with discretion.
• Coordinate team engagement, recognition, and culture-building activities.
• Support R&D training, workshops, and learning events.
• Assist with talent planning, reviews, and development meetings.
• Willingness and ability to travel as needed, estimated travel up to 15%.

Minimum Education and Experience:

• Associates Degree.
• 5+ years’ administrative support experience.
• 4+ years supporting senior executives (C-Suite or SVP/VP level).
• Experience in technical or scientific environments.
• Strong communication, organization, and confidentiality skills.
• Expertise in Microsoft 365 and financial administration (POs, invoices, budgets).
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proven ability to build strong relationships with senior leaders.

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Experience supporting R&D, laboratory, technical, scientific, or manufacturing teams.
• Familiarity with project management tools or systems commonly used in research environments (SAP, Maximo, Coupa).
• Project management experience or certification.
• Familiarity with AI technologies.

Physical Requirements and Environmental Factors:

• Position is mostly sedentary but may require occasional moving to other offices or buildings.
• May need to move light equipment or supplies from one place to another.
• May need to access files, supplies, and equipment.
• Work activity is in an enclosed office and/or open-partitioned cubicle environment.
• Exposure primarily consists of wet and moist floors which include metal and plastic grating surfaces.
• May be exposed to temperatures of 28 degrees-100 degrees Fahrenheit with both ambient and 100% humidity.
• May handle products from 25 degrees to 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
• May be exposed to noise ranges of 50 db to 110 db.
• May be exposed to all chemicals used in poultry, food, and processing facility.
• Wear and use protective and safety equipment required for the job as directed by the Company.

Perdue Farms Inc. is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.