Job Description

About Us:

CCI Prime is a leading manufacturer and importer of Asian-style food products selling primarily under the Prime Foods and Chan & Chan brands. For over 30 years, Prime Foods has been providing Asian foods to U.S. consumers. Customers praise the brand for its authentic Cantonese flavors and premium quality. The company’s dedication to innovation and authenticity has garnered a loyal customer following across the country.

The Asian cuisine category is one of the fastest growing food categories. In preparation for continued growth, CCI Prime has invested in a new facility in Bethlehem PA. We are looking for a motivated and experienced Assistant R&D Manager to help develop innovative and tasty new items for CCI Prime while also managing the important details across items.

Position Summary:

We are seeking a dedicated and knowledgeable Research and Development Assistant Manager to join our team. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in food science and technology, with expertise in scientific research, food processing, and quality assurance. This position requires strong project management skills and ability to coordinate multiple ongoing projects. This position supports customer & regulatory compliance through the product development realization to industrialization phases. The successful candidate must be able to advise and co-ordinate the necessary approvals (regulatory, customer and internal standards) during the transition from concept to production.

Key Responsibilities:

• Product Development & Innovation: Assist in the creation, formulation, and optimization of new and existing food products, ensuring alignment with company goals and market trends.
• Propose formula improvement aligning with the company goals and objectives
• Documentation & Compliance: Maintain detailed records of formulations, ingredient specifications, and processing parameters, ensuring compliance with regulatory and food safety requirements.
• Ownership of the item master (raw materials, intermediates, finished products)
• Ownership of bill of materials (formula) for our locations (two currently)
• Develop and maintain nutritional panels for new product labels
• Creating finished product specifications
• Manufacturing Process Implementation: Work closely with operations to transition new products from R&D to full-scale production, optimizing processes for efficiency and quality.
• Testing & Quality Control: Conduct product testing, including sensory evaluations, shelf-life studies, and ingredient functionality analysis to ensure consistent product performance.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Supply Chain, Marketing, and Operations teams to ensure smooth product launches, ingredient sourcing, and cost optimization.
• Problem-Solving & Troubleshooting: Identify and resolve formulation and process-related challenges to maintain high product standards.
• Market & Competitive Analysis: Stay informed about industry trends, emerging ingredients, and competitor products to drive innovation and maintain a competitive edge.
• Supplier & Vendor Coordination: Collaborate with suppliers for ingredient sourcing, specification alignment, and cost negotiations.
• Technical Support: Provide technical assistance to production teams, ensuring adherence to R&D specifications and continuous improvement initiatives.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Food Science, Food Technology, or a related field.
• 3-5 years of experience in food product development, preferably in a manufacturing or CPG environment.
• Strong knowledge of food safety regulations (USDA, FDA, HACCP, GMP).
• Experience with ingredient functionality, formulation, and process development.
• Familiarity with frozen food, dumplings, bakery, or related product categories is a plus.
• Hands-on experience in a food production facility, including scaling up recipes and troubleshooting manufacturing issues.
• Strong project management and documentation skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills.
• Proficient in computer applications such as relational databases, Microsoft Dynamics GP or SAGE X3, Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access), and other related software.

Why Join CCI Prime?

• Opportunity to play a key role in shaping the continuous improvement culture of a growing manufacturing plant.
• Work with a team dedicated to innovation and operational excellence.
• Competitive salary, benefits, and career growth opportunities.
• Be part of an exciting industry producing high-quality Asian dumplings enjoyed by consumers nationwide.

Important Qualifications to Your Success:

• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Follow all safety and sanitation procedures in the facility.
• Able to adapt to a fast-paced environment and flexible to do other job duties as required.
• Arrives to work on time, returns timely from breaks, and meets attendance guidelines.
• Willingness to raise questions and concerns over issues.
• Good observation, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Self-aware, positive team attitude.
• Willingness to work overtime when required if applicable.
• Strong leadership and oral / written communication skills. Ability to communicate and interface with co-workers, vendors, contractors, and management team.
• Detailed-oriented with strong organizational skills and ability to prioritize activities.

This job description is not intended to be and should not be construed as an all-inclusive list of the responsibilities, skills or working conditions associated with the position. While it is intended to accurately reflect the position activities and requirements, Chan and Chan USA LLC reserves the right to modify, add or remove duties and assign other duties as necessary.

External and internal applicants, as well as position incumbents who become disabled as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, must be able to perform the essential job functions (as listed here) either unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation to be determined by management on a case-by-case basis.

Chan & Chan USA LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider applicants (either external or internal) for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, ancestry, age, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, disability, genetic information, gender identity, Veteran’s status, military service, or other classifications protected by law.

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