Product Development Scientist (Reformulation)

Plexus Worldwide•Scottsdale, AZ

About The Position

This role leads the scientific and technical direction of product renovation, lifecycle management, and continuous improvement for Plexus' portfolio of dietary supplements and functional delivery systems. The scientist will partner closely with various departments and external manufacturers to renovate legacy products, optimize formulations, strengthen scientific substantiation, improve consumer experience, and ensure long-term product performance. The position proactively identifies opportunities to evolve existing products using emerging science while supporting the product roadmap and innovation pipeline. The Renovation Scientist serves as the technical owner of existing products, driving scientifically sound changes that enhance efficacy, quality, manufacturability, supply continuity, and consumer satisfaction.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Nutrition, Chemistry, Food Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a related scientific discipline required.
Minimum of 3 years of experience in dietary supplement formulation, product development, or commercialization required.
Translate emerging scientific research into differentiated product improvements that strengthen efficacy, consumer experience, and commercial value.
Identify and solve complex formulation, stability, and manufacturing challenges through sound scientific analysis and evidence-based decision making.
Lead multiple renovation initiatives simultaneously, delivering high-quality outcomes while balancing speed, quality, regulatory compliance, and business priorities.
Influence technical decisions across cross-functional teams and external manufacturing partners, driving alignment without direct authority.
Evaluate ingredients, suppliers, and formulation strategies to improve product performance, reduce supply risk, and support global commercialization.
Communicate complex scientific concepts with clarity, enabling informed decisions by both technical and business stakeholders.
Take ownership of technical outcomes, proactively identifying opportunities for continuous improvement rather than relying on external partners to drive innovation.
Maintain exceptional standards of scientific integrity, product quality, and consumer focus, consistently seeking opportunities to elevate the performance of the existing product portfolio.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree preferred.
Certified Food Scientist (CFS) certification preferred.
5+ years of experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop and present 12 science-based renovation proposals annually that align with the product roadmap.
Increase product efficacy, functionality, and consumer value through evidence-based formula improvements.
Strengthen scientific substantiation and consumer-facing benefit claims across the product portfolio.
Improve product stability, manufacturability, and supply resilience through proactive renovation initiatives.
Reduce product performance issues through scientifically driven root cause analysis and corrective actions.
Identify opportunities to improve ingredient sourcing, quality, and formulation robustness before issues arise.
Deliver a minimum of 12 renovation proposals annually that are scientifically substantiated, commercially viable, and aligned with the product roadmap and lifecycle strategy.
Increase the performance of existing products by identifying and implementing evidence-based formulation improvements that strengthen efficacy, stability, functionality, consumer experience, and competitive differentiation.
Advance the scientific credibility of the product portfolio by incorporating emerging research—including microbiome science, probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics, botanicals, and novel ingredients—to support stronger product positioning and consumer-relevant claims.
Improve product robustness and manufacturing reliability by proactively identifying formulation, ingredient, and process risks and implementing solutions that enhance stability, manufacturability, shelf life, and supply continuity.
Reduce technical and supply risk by qualifying alternative raw materials and second-source suppliers that maintain product performance, regulatory compliance, and global availability.
Lead scientifically rigorous renovation projects from technical assessment through commercialization, ensuring cross-functional alignment, timely execution, and successful implementation of formulation improvements.
Improve consumer satisfaction and product performance by leading root cause investigations into product quality issues, stability failures, sensory deviations, and consumer feedback, implementing corrective actions that prevent recurrence.
Influence technical decision-making across the organization by serving as the scientific authority for product renovations, providing data-driven recommendations that guide Product Marketing, Operations, Quality, Regulatory, Procurement, and Executive Leadership.
Challenge the status quo by independently identifying opportunities for continuous improvement, driving renovation initiatives based on scientific evidence rather than relying solely on external manufacturing partners for recommendations.
Build organizational technical capability by mentoring R&D Specialists and ensuring scientific documentation, technical data, and project records are complete, accurate, and audit-ready.