Senior Director of Product 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: Shape the future of fresh protein innovation as our Senior Director of Product Development, where you will lead Perdue’s Ready to Cook chicken portfolio into its next era of growth. In this rare, high impact role, you will set strategic direction, inspire cross functional teams, and turn bold, innovative ideas into market leading products. You will build winning product pipelines, develop world class talent, and influence stakeholders across the enterprise to advance Perdue’s position as a leader in fresh protein innovation. This role is ideal for a visionary, hands-on leader who thrives on challenging convention, driving results, and leaving a lasting mark on both the organization and the marketplace.

The salary range for this position is $194,000 - $292,000 per year, based on experience and qualifications with annual bonus available (variable depending on performance). In addition to the base salary, 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:

• Lead the end-to-end implementation of strategy, innovation pipeline, product development, and process execution for the company’s fresh chicken portfolio.
• Oversee cross-functional collaboration with Operations, Marketing, Sales, and FSQA teams, creating a seamless commercialization path from concept to scale and delivers consumer-relevant innovation, renovation, and cost/value optimization across the category.
• Combine deep technical expertise in poultry processing with a strategic, insights-driven approach to shaping the future of the RTC chicken business and guide a high-performing team to ensure products meet brand standards, consumer & customer expectations, regulatory requirements, and operational feasibility.
• Lead creation, testing, and commercialization of new RTC items; oversee renovation for quality, consistency, cost, and sustainability; ensure designs align with operational capabilities and margin targets.
• Partner with Operations/Supply Chain for manufacturability and scale; work with FSQA for regulatory and internal standards; collaborate with Marketing/Insights; support Sales in customer presentations and innovation planning.
• Implement the long-term product development strategy for the fresh RTC chicken portfolio; translate insights into a multi-year innovation pipeline; drive portfolio decisions; represent R&D in strategic forums.
• Lead, coach, and develop product developers, scientists, and process engineering professionals; foster a culture of innovation and accountability; establish disciplined processes, documentation, and timelines; recruit and build capability.
• Apply knowledge of poultry processing, raw material variability, packaging, marination, and shelf-life; troubleshoot technical challenges; guide pilot/plant trials; inform sensory strategies; monitor trends and regulatory changes.
• Track metrics (speed-to-market, success rates, cost savings); support margin improvement through optimization and simplification.

Minimum Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Meat Science, Food Science, Animal Science, Poultry Science, or related field.
• 10–15+ years in product development within fresh meat/poultry (preference for RTC).
• Proven commercialization leadership.
• Senior people leadership.
• Strong USDA/food safety and operations understanding.
• Strong communication and stakeholder skills.

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Master’s degree or advanced technical credentials (PhD considered).
• Experience in large-scale CPG/protein processing/branded retail fresh meat/project management/customer-facing innovation for major retailers/foodservice.

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 office setting.

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.