Director of Research & Development

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Reliance Vitamin, LLC is a privately owned, high-growth consumer products company in the nutritional supplements industry, comprised of two complementary divisions:
Private Label and Contract Manufacturing.

Through our Private Label division, we offer a highly innovative portfolio of on-trend, stocked products featuring patented and trademarked ingredients designed to fuel the growth of private brands. Our Contract Manufacturing division serves as a turnkey partner for brands seeking cutting‑edge innovation, reduced vendor management complexity, and faster speed‑to‑market.

With more than 40 years of experience in health and wellness, Reliance Vitamin is a leading manufacturer of scientifically formulated nutritional supplements. We combine deep industry expertise with data-driven, consumer-focused insights to support leading retailers and national brands. Our capabilities span key growth categories including probiotics, collagen, plant-based protein, whole food organics, and hydration.

Excellence is in our nature. From sourcing premium ingredients to maintaining rigorous quality controls, our commitment to operational and scientific excellence has enabled long-standing partnerships with top retailers and national brands. Reliance Vitamin is Organic, NSF, UL, and Halal certified, and is a supplier member of the NPA, AHPA, and the Natural Products Foundation.

As we continue to scale, we are seeking a Director of Research & Development to help lead scientific innovation and shape the future of our product portfolio.

The Director of Research and Development provides strategic and technical leadership for formulation, product development, and scientific innovation across the supplement portfolio. This role serves as the technical authority for formulation science, ingredient strategy, and quality by design, translating scientific, supplier, and market insights into commercially viable supplement solutions. The position is accountable for setting and executing a forward-looking R&D agenda that drives business growth, margin optimization, and differentiated product performance.

• Define and execute a strategic R&D roadmap aligned with business growth, customer needs, regulatory requirements, and dietary supplement market trends.
• Lead formulation and reformulation activities to optimize product performance, manufacturability, quality, cost, and speed to market.
• Serve as the internal and external technical authority on formulation science, ingredient strategy, and processing capabilities.
• Oversee pilot trials, scale-up, and technology transfer to manufacturing, ensuring effective execution and cost control.
• Lead formulation costing, bid support, and margin analysis for new and existing products.
• Partner closely with Sales and Marketing to support customer engagements, innovation discussions, and product positioning.
• Ensure all R&D activities comply with FDA cGMPs, dietary supplement regulations, and internal quality standards.
• Collaborate with Quality and Supply Chain on raw material qualification, specifications, substitutions, and sourcing.
• Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing R&D and formulation team.
• Provide technical leadership for production troubleshooting and continuous process improvement.
• Represent Reliance Vitamin at industry trade shows and technical forums.

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Nutrition, Chemistry, Engineering, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 7+ years of experience in dietary supplement development or a similarly regulated manufacturing environment.
• Strong working knowledge of FDA cGMPs and dietary supplement regulatory requirements.
• Deep technical expertise in formulation science, scale-up, and supplement manufacturing processes.
• Hands‑on familiarity with manufacturing equipment including tablet presses, capsule machines, and blending systems.
• Proven ability to lead teams, develop talent, and drive accountability.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and decision‑making skills.
• Clear, confident communicator with the ability to influence cross‑functional stakeholders.
• Proficiency with ERP systems, Microsoft 365, and project management tools.

If you are a hands‑on R&D leader who thrives in a regulated, fast‑paced environment and wants to make a measurable impact, we encourage you to apply.

Director

Full-time

Research, Analyst, and Information Technology

Wellness and Fitness Services

Location:

North Brunswick, NJ

Salary Range: $144,000 – $216,000