R&D Assistant

Job Title: R&D Assistant

Location: Lewisville, TX

Job Type: Full-time/Non-exempt

Business Hours: M-F 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM *Occasionally after/before business hours, weekend hours may be required

Reports to: R&D Team

Wage: $20-$25/hr DOE

About the Company:

Warabeya North America is a leading food manufacturer specializing in high-quality fresh and ready-to-eat food products. As part of the global Warabeya Nichiyo Group headquartered in Japan, we are dedicated with years of food innovation with a strong commitment to safety, quality, and continuous improvement. Our North American operations are growing, offering a collaborative, fast-paced environment where employees have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact and growth together with the company.

Job Summery:

The R&D Assistant supports the Research & Development team by managing documentation, assisting with product development activities, and providing administrative and operational support. The role is heavily focused on data management and documentation accuracy.

Major Duties:

Documentation & Data Management (70%)

• Create, update, and maintain R&D documentation including product recipes, specifications, and quality materials
• Develop presentation materials using Microsoft PowerPoint
• Prepare, update, and manage reports and internal documentation
• Maintain and organize documentation in internal and online databases
• Collaborate with customers to ensure documentation accuracy and completeness
• Communicate with suppliers to ensure documentation is current and accurate
• Track orders and process special order requests related to R&D activities
• Assist in market research activities related to product development

Kitchen & Product Development Support (20%)

• Assist in kitchen operations including measuring ingredients, preparing recipes, and cleaning
• Support product development trials and new recipe creation

Administrative Support & Other Duties (10%)

• Schedule meetings, appointments, and maintain calendars for the R&D team
• Prepare and distribute communications (emails, reports, memos)
• Organize and maintain departmental files and records
• Greet visitors and direct inquiries appropriately
• Support R&D meetings, customer presentations, and events
• Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders across departments
• Perform other duties as assigned by the R&D team or management as needed

The Company reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and responsibilities of this role as needed to meet business requirements.

Qualifications:

• High school diploma required. Bachelor's degree in marketing or business is a plus.
• Professional working proficiency in English (written and verbal)

• Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including use of formulas and functions (e.g., COUNTIF, SUMIF, VLOOKUP, basic data analysis)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• High level of flexibility with the ability to adapt quickly to changing priorities, tasks, and work environments
• Excellent time management and organizational skills
• High attention to detail with a proactive and positive attitude
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and work independently with minimal supervision
• Passion for food and interest in product development
• Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis at the time the employment begins and must not require sponsorship for employment visa status. This position is not eligible for employer-sponsored work authorization.

Work Environment & Workplace:

The employee will work across multiple environments, including office, laboratory, kitchen, manufacturing, and warehouse settings. The role may involve regular exposure to varying conditions such as hot and cold temperatures, humidity, and moderate noise levels.

Physical Demands:

To successfully perform the essential functions of this role, the employee must be able to:

• Sit, stand, and walk for extended periods throughout the workday
• Bend, stoop, reach, and occasionally climb as required
• Use hands and fingers to handle, feel, and operate equipment and tools
• Safely operate motorized equipment or vehicles within the facility, as required
• Lift, carry, push, and/or pull items weighing up to 30 pounds
• Maintain visual acuity, including close vision, distance vision, and the ability to focus

Benefits:

• 401(k), 401(k) matching
• Dental/Medical/Vision insurance – 100% paid employee's premium
• Life Insurance, Paid Time Off