R&D Coordinator

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.