Director, Research & Development

• Build, coach, and develop a team of product developers, many early in their careers
• Create an environment where people feel ownership of their work and pride in the outcome
• Encourage curiosity, experimentation, and continuous improvement
• Set clear expectations and hold the team accountable to high standards

• Establish clear, effective approaches to product development that balance creativity with discipline
• Bring structure and clarity to how work gets done—without slowing momentum
• Ensure strong execution across multiple projects, with clear ownership and follow-through

• Work closely with Marketing to provide product insight and feasibility input as ideas are shaped
• Partner with Supply Chain, Quality, and Regulatory to ensure products are developed responsibly and effectively
• Act as the bridge between concept and product reality

·       Travel as required for product development, customer meetings, research and internal collaboration. Up to 25%.

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Engineering, or related field
• Advanced degree preferred

• 10–15+ years in product development within CPG, ideally in beverages or adjacent categories
• Strong track record of developing and improving products in manufacturing-driven environments
• Experience working with both internal manufacturing teams and co-packers
• Experience in tea, coffee, or similar categories preferred

• You bring both craft and practicality—you care deeply about the product and know how to make it work at scale
• You’re as comfortable in a plant as you are in a development lab
• You develop people, not just products
• You create clarity and accountability without overcomplicating things
• You’re energized by the opportunity to build, improve, and elevate

Based in Fairfield, CT and 100% family and woman-owned, the Bigelow Tea Company pioneered the specialty tea category over 80 years ago. The third-generation company takes pride in its heritage and successful growth from a one-product, entrepreneurial venture into America’s #1 leading tea company brand.

Bigelow Tea is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Bigelow Tea does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law.