Food Scientist

Basic American Foods • Blackfoot, ID

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Food Scientist executes product development projects from concept through commercialization and coordinates with cross-functional partners to support success through a stage-gate project management process. The role applies scientific principles to formulate new food products that meet taste expectations. The position is based in Blackfoot, Idaho. Local candidates are preferred; relocation support may be offered to a qualified candidate relocating to southeast Idaho.

The Food Scientist leads product development activities including bench trials, pilot-plant and manufacturing scale-up trials, analytical reporting, and tasting sessions with the RDQA team and/or Marketing. The role collaborates with internal partners and external suppliers to resolve technical challenges, documents and analyzes shelf-life studies and product cutting sessions, and supports ingredient, formula, and finished-good specifications. It also identifies functional ingredients and technologies for continuous improvement and uses Lean principles, root-cause analysis, and statistical data to guide decisions.

The company describes itself as a relatively flat, family-owned and family-friendly organization that supports employee development and offers challenging work. It values integrity, accountability, respect, and an inclusive workplace.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from a four-year college or university; related disciplines are considered.
• At least 3 years of related food science experience.
• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time, primarily between facilities in southeast Idaho.
• Demonstrated ability to use scientific principles to develop new products, processes, and formulations.
• Resourcefulness and critical-thinking skills.
• Detail orientation and ability to manage projects, plan and coordinate activities, communicate progress and challenges, and serve as a technical expert.
• General understanding of Lean principles, data-driven problem-solving methods, lab testing tools and apparatus, food processing and manufacturing equipment, and sensory evaluation methods.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work cross-functionally with all levels of management and other functions.
• Willingness to relocate to the area if not already local, if considered for the role.

Nice To Haves

• A degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or Culinology.
• Related food science experience with a food manufacturer.
• Local residence in southeast Idaho.

Responsibilities

• Develop new products from concept through commercialization, including designing and leading bench trials and supporting pilot-plant and manufacturing scale-up trials.
• Create analytical reports and organize tasting sessions with the RDQA team and/or Marketing.
• Collaborate with internal cross-functional partners and external suppliers to identify and troubleshoot technical product-development hurdles.
• Develop, organize, and document product shelf-life studies and product cutting sessions.
• Analyze study results, draw conclusions, and communicate recommendations for next steps.
• Support the creation, routing, and management of ingredient, formula, and finished-good specifications.
• Identify ideas and research new functional ingredients and technologies to drive continuous improvement.
• Apply scientific principles and foundational product-development concepts to projects.
• Use Lean principles to conduct root-cause analyses, analyze statistical data, identify trends, and support data-driven decision-making.

Benefits

• Competitive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• 401(k) with company contributions.
• Generous time off program.
• Life and disability insurance.
• Adoption assistance.
• Scholarship program for children of employees.
• Employee assistance program for employees and their families.
• Annual incentive plan.
• Relocation support may be offered to a qualified candidate relocating to southeast Idaho.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level