Food Scientist

Tyson•Springdale, AR

About The Position

The Food Scientist develops and commercializes new and improved products and processes under manager guidance. The role spans product and process development, from writing product specifications and preparing prototypes through regulatory labeling and food safety compliance, cost analysis, and full-scale commercialization. The scientist applies scientific methods and knowledge of ingredients, formulation, and food processing to develop innovative products, and leads cook validations to support food safety, optimized cooking procedures, and consistent restaurant quality. Cook validation work includes planning, conducting, documenting, and communicating studies across products, production lines, and fryer platforms. The position works across functions and with ingredient suppliers, supports product start-ups and process development, and manages multiple projects of moderate complexity from concept through commercialization. Work includes bench-top development, pilot-plant testing, scale-up at a federally inspected research facility, and commercialization at a full-scale production facility. The position may supervise hourly technicians and requires travel of 25–50% to production facilities and customer meetings. The hiring level will be determined during the interview process as Food Scientist I or Food Scientist II.

Requirements

For Food Scientist I: A BS, MS, or PhD in Food Science, Meat Science, Food Engineering, or a related field; PhD or MS with no experience; BS with at least 2 years of relevant experience; or no degree with at least 8 years of relevant experience.
For Food Scientist II: A BS, MS, or PhD in Food Science, Meat Science, Food Engineering, or a related field; PhD with no experience; MS with at least 2 years of relevant experience; BS with at least 3 years of relevant experience; or no degree with at least 8 years of relevant experience.
Good computer skills and ability to use MS Office products and Tyson systems or similar systems.
Good verbal and written communication skills, presentation skills, and ability to communicate effectively with cross-functional business partners.
Strong critical-thinking, analytical, problem-solving, project-management, and numerical skills.
Understanding of product formulation, food processing, the research and development process, regulatory labeling, and food safety requirements.
Willingness and ability to meet the physical requirements of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Travel of 25–50% is required.

Nice To Haves

Working knowledge of poultry new-product development and optimization, including battered and breaded products.
Knowledge of alternative protein science or an equivalent field.

Responsibilities

Develop and commercialize new and improved products and processes, including product specifications and regulatory labeling.
Develop culinary samples and prototypes; modify and optimize existing products.
Plan, execute, document, analyze, and communicate experiments and cook validation studies across products, production lines, and fryer platforms.
Manage multiple moderate-complexity development and optimization projects from concept through commercialization, with manager guidance.
Conduct bench-top development, pilot-plant testing, scale-up production at a federally inspected research facility, and final commercialization at a full-scale production facility.
Work with and influence marketing, insights, sales, culinary, FSQA, operations, and purchasing teams, and coordinate with ingredient suppliers to support smooth production start-ups.
Develop product production labels and specifications, compile cost analyses, and provide costing information to product management while ensuring project costs meet financial expectations.
Analyze data to develop process-capable product specifications and present technical information to audiences with varying levels of technical understanding.
Support identification of innovations that may provide Tyson with a competitive advantage and contribute to growth and EBIT strategies.
Work with process development to create process flow charts for engineering.
Travel to production facilities and customer meetings for testing, commercialization, process troubleshooting, and other business needs.
Complete special projects as needed and develop a personal development plan with the manager.
May supervise hourly technicians supporting a team of scientists.