Job Description

Why Hershey:

At The Hershey Company, our culture is rooted in purpose and inspired by Milton Hershey’s enduring vision that business should create opportunity for others. Through our commitment to corporate philanthropy, we create positive impact by supporting communities, helping children thrive, and operating as a business for good. This includes our deep and long standing partnership with Milton Hershey School, where we invest in education, workforce readiness, and hands on engagement to help students succeed beyond the classroom. Supported by strategic grantmaking, product donations, cross brand collaboration, and strong employee volunteerism, Hershey offers a place to work where making a difference—locally and globally—is part of how we do business every day.

Location: Hershey, PA

How will you fit in the big picture?

Based at The Hershey Company's Technical Center, you will lead R&D strategy and execution for Hershey's brand innovation, renovation, and adjacent chocolate platforms. You will guide a team of 8-10 professionals and technicians, including an Associate Manager people leader, while partnering across Consumer Insights, Marketing, Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Sensory, and Regulatory teams to translate consumer needs into successful products. This is a high-impact opportunity to shape the future of iconic Hershey brands and adjacent portfolios at the Sweetest Place on Earth.

What you will do

• Lead Hershey's brand innovation and renovation: Set technical direction and deliver formulation, process development, scale-up, validation, and commercialization for Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bars, Kisses, Cookies 'n' Crème, Special Dark, Symphony, and related platforms.
• Drive portfolio and business support: Lead chocolate adjacencies, R&D Kitchens, packaging product development support, continuous improvement, design-to-value, business continuity, and accelerated market-test launches.
• Own portfolio execution: Set priorities, allocate resources, establish goals and timelines, manage project risks, and provide clear progress updates to senior leaders.
• Build talent and organizational capability: Lead, coach, and develop a team of 8-10 professional staff and technicians, including an Associate Manager who leads 2-4 team members; support strong engagement, retention, and career growth.

Minimum Education & Requirements

Education: Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Chemical Engineering, Food Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, or a related scientific discipline. Master's degree preferred.

Experience: 7+ years of relevant experience in food product development, innovation, and commercialization, including demonstrated people leadership and cross-functional program leadership.

• Demonstrated success leading new product development and innovation programs from concept through pilot and full-scale commercialization.
• Strong knowledge of chocolate or confectionery platforms, formulation strategies, process technologies, and validation methods.
• Proven ability to translate consumer needs and commercial objectives into science and technology strategies and project plans.
• Strong strategic thinking, influencing, decision-making, problem-solving, financial understanding, and change leadership skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including presentations to senior and executive leaders.
• Ability to travel approximately 25%, primarily within the United States, with occasional international travel.

Benefits and Perks

At Hershey, we offer competitive pay and a comprehensive total rewards package designed to support your wellbeing, financial security, and life outside of work.

• Health & Wellbeing: Medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus wellness programs that support your physical and mental health begin on Day 1.
• Financial Security: Competitive pay, annual incentive opportunities, and a 401(k) with company match
• Time Off & Flexibility: Paid time off, company holidays, and flexible ways of working where applicable
• Growth & Development: Career development programs, learning opportunities, and internal mobility

Benefits may vary based on role, location, and eligibility.

The anticipated base salary range for this role is $152,960 to $191,200 per year. The actual base salary offered will depend on a variety of job‑related factors, including, but not limited to, experience, skill set, education, and training. In addition to a market-competitive base salary, our Total Rewards package includes performance‑based incentives and a comprehensive, competitive benefits package designed to support overall physical, mental, and financial well‑being (as applicable). Learn more about Hershey’s benefits and all the resources Hershey provides to support our employees’ physical, emotional, and financial well‑being by visiting the Hershey Digital Employee Experience at www.askHRbenefits.hersheys.com

The Hershey Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The policy of The Hershey Company is to extend opportunities to qualified applicants and employees on an equal basis regardless of an individual's race, color, gender, age, national origin, religion, citizenship status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other categories protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.

The Hershey Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Minority/Female/Disabled/Protected Veterans. You may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our online application process as a result of a disability.

You can request an accommodation via phone or email.To request an accommodation via phone, please call +1 877-804-1794 and leave a voicemail with your contact information. You may also email a request for accommodation to ApplicationHelp@hersheys.com. Please be sure to include “Accommodation Needed” in the subject line. This will ensure that your email is routed to the appropriate contact who will handle your request.

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