Director, R&D – Digital Transformation (AI)

Location: Glenview, Illinois, United States. Hybrid role based at the hirify.global R&D Innovation Center, with up to two remote days per week and an expectation of at least three onsite days per week.

New hire base salary: $190,300–$237,900 per year, plus performance-based bonus and long-term equity incentive.

Company

hirify.global develops food and beverage products and operates a research and development organization focused on product, process, packaging, and manufacturing innovation.

What you will do

• Define the North American R&D digital transformation strategy, roadmap, investment priorities, and operating model.
• Build the Digital R&D Hub, including the target organizational structure, workforce plan, hiring profiles, and development pathways.
• Integrate PLM, ELN, and LIMS systems into a governed data platform with shared taxonomies, quality standards, and ingestion pipelines.
• Guide the development and deployment of physics-, engineering-, chemistry-, machine-learning-, and generative-AI-based models for formulation, process, shelf-life, packaging, and consumer behavior prediction.
• Establish MLOps, model governance, build-versus-buy decisions, and scalable Hub-and-Spoke adoption across R&D teams.
• Recruit and lead a multidisciplinary team while aligning R&D, Operations, IT, Marketing, Quality, and senior leadership around measurable transformation outcomes.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree with 17 years of relevant experience, master’s degree with 16 years, or PhD with 15 years.
• At least 12 years leading digital, analytics, or advanced technology initiatives in R&D, manufacturing, or product development.
• Proven experience defining digital transformation strategy in a complex, matrixed CPG or food and beverage environment.
• Experience with organizational design, workforce planning, hiring roadmaps, and scaling early-stage functions.
• Technical fluency in food science, product development, chemical or mechanical engineering, and/or packaging development.
• Strong knowledge of machine learning, generative AI, computational modeling, modern data architecture, MLOps, PLM, ELN, and LIMS.

Culture & Benefits

• Hybrid work arrangement with flexibility based on business needs.
• Visa sponsorship is available for this role.
• Healthcare, prescription drug, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, and family support programs.
• Paid time off, company holidays, leave of absence, flexible work arrangements, and training opportunities.
• 401(k), wellbeing programs, employee assistance, and performance-based bonus and equity eligibility.