Apply now »

Note: If you apply for a role at Hershey through our career’s website, we may use technologies that use automation to filter your candidacy based on objective criteria. We also use AI-enabled tools that help us facilitate the selection of our future Hershey talent. These tools may help with activities such as matching and scoring candidates to roles based on requirements and scheduling interviews. These systems process only the information you provide in your application, including your resume, work history, education, and responses to screening questions. While these technologies assist with certain steps in our recruitment process and may provide recommendations, all final decisions, including those affecting whether candidates advance to subsequent stages in the applicant process, are made by our talent acquisition teams with meaningful human review and independent judgment. Depending on your location and the specific role you apply for, additional disclosures about our use of AI in recruitment may be provided to you separately.

Supervisor R&D Production

Posted Date:  Sep 8, 2026
Requisition Number:  130055

Location: Hershey, PA 

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.

 

 

About The Hershey Company

The Hershey Company is an industry-leading snacks company known for making more moments of goodness through its iconic brands. With a strong portfolio across chocolate, confectionery, and salty snacks, Hershey delights consumers every day. Our beloved brands include Hershey’s, Reese’s, KitKat®, Dots Pretzels, Lesser Evil, Jolly Rancher, Twizzlers, Ice Breakers, and more.

 

At Hershey, we are committed to making a meaningful difference in the communities where we live, work, and do business. This commitment originated with our founder, Milton Hershey, and continues to shape who we are today.

 

Guided by our employee value proposition, Lead Today. Create Tomorrow, we empower our people to drive impact now while shaping what comes next. Our One Hershey mindset brings teams together across functions, geographies, and businesses, enabling us to operate with speed, collaboration, and shared purpose.

 

The Hershey Company is proud to be recognized as a top employer in the United States, reflecting our commitment to our people, culture, and purpose. 

How will you fit in the big picture?

The Supervisor, R&D Production is responsible for coordinating and executing product and process development activities that support innovation, scale-up, commercialization, and continuous improvement initiatives. This role oversees daily operations within the pilot plant and product development environment, ensuring projects are executed safely, efficiently, and in compliance with quality and regulatory standards. The position coordinates work assignments and schedules for Continuous Part Time (CPT) employees, manages resources and equipment readiness, and partners closely with scientists, engineers, and cross-functional stakeholders to advance development projects from concept through commercialization. Through strong technical knowledge, operational execution, and project coordination, this role helps deliver successful product and process innovations.

What will you do?

  • Coordinate and oversee daily pilot plant, laboratory, and development activities supporting product and process innovation, optimization, validation, and commercialization efforts.
  • Schedule, direct, and prioritize work assignments for Continuous Part Time (CPT) employees and other technical support resources to ensure projects are completed safely, efficiently, and according to project timelines.
  • Lead the execution of benchtop, pilot plant, plant trial, start-up, and validation activities, ensuring adherence to established procedures, product specifications, and quality standards.
  • Ensure laboratory and pilot plant equipment are properly prepared, maintained, cleaned, and operational to support development and production activities.
  • Support ingredient management, sample preparation, inventory control, lot tracking, documentation, and data collection required for product development projects.
  • Partner with scientists, engineers, manufacturing teams, and other cross-functional stakeholders to plan activities, troubleshoot issues, and advance projects through the development and commercialization process.
  • Identify technical, operational, or scheduling challenges and implement solutions to maintain project momentum and operational effectiveness.
  • Maintain compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), food safety requirements, sanitation standards, and workplace safety expectations.
  • Provide training, technical guidance, and day-to-day direction to CPT employees and technical support staff on equipment, processes, and operating procedures.
  • Support continuous improvement initiatives by identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, workflow reliability, equipment utilization, and technical execution.

Minimum Education & Requirements

Experience

  • 1-3+ years of experience in research & development, product development, pilot plant operations, manufacturing, process development, or a related technical environment.
  • Experience supporting pilot plant, manufacturing, commercialization, or scale-up activities.
  • Experience coordinating project activities and managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
  • Experience scheduling and directing technical support resources or hourly personnel preferred.
  • Knowledge of GMP, food safety, sanitation, and quality systems.
  • Strong troubleshooting, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
  • Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.

 

Education

  • Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Biological Sciences, or a related technical field.
  • Relevant combination of education and directly related experience may be considered.

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 
  • 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 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.

 

#LI-RF1

#LI-Onsite 


Nearest Major Market: Harrisburg

Apply now »