R&D Coordinator

## Description

Job Title: R&D Coordinator

Department: Research & Development

Reports To: Technical Manager

Location: Vernon, CA

**PAFCO** is a $500MM+ global seafood manufacturing company with 45+ years of success. Our business is built on trust which has allowed for both our company, and our customers, to succeed together. Learn more about the company at **<www.pafco.net>**.

Position Summary

The R&D Coordinator supports product development, reformulation, and commercialization activities within a seafood manufacturing environment. This role coordinates product trials, maintains documentation, ensures regulatory compliance, and serves as a liaison between R&D, Quality Assurance, Production, Procurement, and Sales to successfully bring new and improved seafood products to market.

Key Responsibilities

Product Development & Commercialization

• Coordinate benchtop and plant trials for new seafood products (fresh, frozen, value-added, ready-to-eat, etc.).
• Assist with recipe development, reformulation, and cost optimization.
• Prepare product specifications, formulations, and technical documentation.
• Support scale-up from pilot to full production.
• Track project timelines and ensure milestone completion.

Regulatory & Compliance

• Ensure products comply with FDA, USDA (if applicable), and state regulations.
• Support seafood HACCP documentation and validation.
• Assist with Prop 65 assessments and labeling compliance.
• Maintain ingredient statements, allergen declarations, and nutritional data.
• Work with QA to validate shelf-life studies and challenge studies.

Documentation & Data Management

• Maintain R&D databases, formulas, and product development files.
• Generate batch sheets and trial reports.
• Coordinate sample submissions for lab testing (microbiological, chemical, sensory).
• Track product costing and ingredient changes.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Coordinate with Production during trials and first runs.
• Communicate with Procurement on ingredient sourcing and specifications.
• Support Sales with technical information and customer samples.
• Assist in responding to customer specification requests and audits.

Sensory & Quality Support

• Organize and document sensory evaluations.
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives.
• Monitor product performance and support continuous improvement efforts.

## Qualifications

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Technology or related field preferred or work experience

Experience

• 1–3 years of experience in food manufacturing (seafood experience strongly preferred).
• Experience with seafood HACCP and FDA regulations.
• Familiarity with frozen, refrigerated, or ready-to-eat product development is a plus.

Technical Skills

• Knowledge of food safety regulations (FDA, HACCP, FSMA).
• Understanding of allergen controls (especially seafood allergens).
• Strong documentation and project coordination skills.

Competencies

• Detail-oriented and highly organized.
• Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Problem-solving mindset with a focus on food safety and quality.

Physical & Work Environment

• Combination of office, kitchen and production floor environment.
• Exposure to refrigerated and frozen conditions.
• Ability to lift up to 50lbs as needed.
• PPE required in production areas.

Preferred Attributes (Seafood-Specific)

• Experience working with raw, cooked, smoked, or ready-to-eat seafood.
• Knowledge of seafood sourcing, seasonality, and quality indicators.
• Understanding of shelf-life challenges unique to seafood products.

**Benefits**

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, 401k, LTD, FSA