diff --git a/parallel-consumer-core/src/main/java/io/confluent/parallelconsumer/ParallelConsumerOptions.java b/parallel-consumer-core/src/main/java/io/confluent/parallelconsumer/ParallelConsumerOptions.java
index b5e5dc950..8ca6d4e60 100644
--- a/parallel-consumer-core/src/main/java/io/confluent/parallelconsumer/ParallelConsumerOptions.java
+++ b/parallel-consumer-core/src/main/java/io/confluent/parallelconsumer/ParallelConsumerOptions.java
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 /*-
  * Copyright (C) 2020-2021 Confluent, Inc.
  */
+
 import io.confluent.parallelconsumer.state.WorkContainer;
 import lombok.Builder;
 import lombok.Getter;
@@ -12,6 +13,7 @@
 
 import java.time.Duration;
 import java.util.Objects;
+import java.util.function.Function;
 
 import static io.confluent.csid.utils.StringUtils.msg;
 import static io.confluent.parallelconsumer.ParallelConsumerOptions.CommitMode.PERIODIC_TRANSACTIONAL_PRODUCER;
@@ -143,6 +145,16 @@ public enum CommitMode {
     @Builder.Default
     private final Duration defaultMessageRetryDelay = Duration.ofSeconds(1);
 
+    /**
+     * When present, use this to generate the retry delay, instad of {@link #getDefaultMessageRetryDelay()}.
+     * <p>
+     * Overrides {@link #defaultMessageRetryDelay}, even if it's set.
+     */
+    @Builder.Default
+    private final Function<WorkContainer, Duration> retryDelayProvider;
+
+    public static Function<WorkContainer, Duration> retryDelayProviderStatic;
+
     public void validate() {
         Objects.requireNonNull(consumer, "A consumer must be supplied");
 
@@ -153,6 +165,7 @@ public void validate() {
 
         //
         WorkContainer.setDefaultRetryDelay(getDefaultMessageRetryDelay());
+        ParallelConsumerOptions.retryDelayProviderStatic = getRetryDelayProvider();
     }
 
     public boolean isUsingTransactionalProducer() {
diff --git a/parallel-consumer-core/src/main/java/io/confluent/parallelconsumer/state/WorkContainer.java b/parallel-consumer-core/src/main/java/io/confluent/parallelconsumer/state/WorkContainer.java
index dbb63ff86..d424f4406 100644
--- a/parallel-consumer-core/src/main/java/io/confluent/parallelconsumer/state/WorkContainer.java
+++ b/parallel-consumer-core/src/main/java/io/confluent/parallelconsumer/state/WorkContainer.java
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
  */
 
 import io.confluent.csid.utils.WallClock;
+import io.confluent.parallelconsumer.ParallelConsumerOptions;
 import lombok.AccessLevel;
 import lombok.EqualsAndHashCode;
 import lombok.Getter;
@@ -61,6 +62,9 @@ public class WorkContainer<K, V> implements Comparable<WorkContainer> {
      */
     private Duration retryDelay;
 
+    /**
+     * @see ParallelConsumerOptions#getDefaultMessageRetryDelay()
+     */
     @Setter
     static Duration defaultRetryDelay = Duration.ofSeconds(1);
 
@@ -123,10 +127,15 @@ private Temporal tryAgainAt(WallClock clock) {
     }
 
     public Duration getRetryDelay() {
-        if (retryDelay == null)
-            return defaultRetryDelay;
-        else
-            return retryDelay;
+        var retryDelayProvider = ParallelConsumerOptions.retryDelayProviderStatic;
+        if (retryDelayProvider != null) {
+            return retryDelayProvider.apply(this);
+        } else {
+            if (retryDelay == null)
+                return defaultRetryDelay;
+            else
+                return retryDelay;
+        }
     }
 
     @Override
@@ -193,4 +202,4 @@ public long offset() {
     public boolean hasPreviouslyFailed() {
         return getNumberOfFailedAttempts() > 0;
     }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}