Project Leader R&D (Principal Food Scientist, Pet)

Work at Simmons•Siloam Springs, AR

About The Position

The Project Leader R&D leads the identification, recommendation, and qualification of process and formulation development capabilities to meet project success criteria and deliver innovative products. The role connects internal and external capabilities to develop solutions, build product platforms, optimize existing processes and formulations, and create new capabilities. It serves as a product and process champion, managing customer projects and product development from concept through formulation, implementation, validation, commercialization, and continuous improvement. The position works closely with customers, suppliers, technical staff, operations, supply chain, and project teams. It may mentor scientists and oversee Research Technicians or interns. Depending on the area of focus, work includes equipment validation; nutritional, regulatory, and finished-product compliance; process and supply-chain support; and project portfolio management. The role is expected to follow company operating systems, contribute to quality and continuous improvement, and perform other duties supporting business objectives. This is a salary-exempt position. It involves travel to facilities, work sites, and customer visits, approximately 25% of the time, often with overnight stays. The employee must be able to work in manufacturing, kitchen, and office environments and use laboratory, kitchen, or cooking equipment.

Requirements

At least 5 years of experience in product development and technical services is required, particularly in pet food; experience requirements are commensurate with education.
Experience in commercial product and/or process development is required.
A bachelor's degree in Food Science, Animal Nutrition, Animal Science, Meat Science, Engineering, or a related field, depending on the assigned business unit; required experience is balanced by education level.
Excellent computer skills with Microsoft Office Suite.
Strong data-entry skills and intermediate to advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills, including preparing documents for presentation.
Ability to quickly learn business integration software suites, including JDE and IQS.
Leadership qualities, flexibility regarding job requirements, and strong communication skills.
Ability to work in manufacturing, kitchen, office, and surrounding-property environments and to move about those environments.
Ability to lift boxes, equipment, or other objects weighing up to 50 pounds as needed.
Ability to use laboratory, kitchen, and cooking equipment and personal protective equipment as required.
Ability to travel domestically to multiple facilities, work sites, or customer visits; travel is approximately 25% and may require overnight stays.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of animal nutrition, food formulation, and thermal processing.
R&D knowledge or experience in food or pet food.
Experience in commercial product development in the food and pet-food industries.
Knowledge of food science, animal nutrition, and food formulation.
Working knowledge of current food and pet-food regulations in various countries; knowledge of United States requirements is essential for successful job performance.
Working knowledge of process mapping.
Experience with Concept 5 and/or AutoCAD.

Responsibilities

Identify, recommend, and qualify process and formulation development capabilities needed to meet project success criteria.
Connect internal and external capabilities to develop solutions, product platforms, process and formulation improvements, and new capabilities.
Fit new customers into existing products or develop line extensions and improvements for existing customers.
Meet with customers and sales account managers to define project scope and assist with target brand evaluation and monitoring.
Use pilot-scale equipment for high-risk projects and coordinate tests with customer or supplier technical representatives.
Develop, bench-test, scale up, validate, and commercialize products and processes in accordance with project briefs, including optimizing product and process parameters, costs, and timing.
Schedule and support plant tests during commissioning and develop contingency plans as needed.
Review process characteristics and product formulations across products and plants to identify simplification and cost-saving opportunities.
Review patents to help ensure that infringement does not occur.
When relevant to process-focused work, calibrate, evaluate, and qualify equipment, including conducting Installation Qualification, Operational Qualification, and Performance Qualification studies.
Conduct pilot-plant tests internally or at supplier facilities to verify process and formulation capabilities.
When relevant to product-focused work, support nutritional adequacy, labeling, nutrition claims, analytical or animal testing, and product non-conformance evaluations.
Collect and analyze information about raw-material and process interactions.
Lead supply-chain initiatives, including formula transfers between plants, evaluations of new raw-material suppliers, changes in raw-material use, and processing-parameter evaluations.
Work with process engineering to develop knowledge of critical process points, and summarize test and processing-run results to support troubleshooting and data interpretation.
Manage the project portfolio in accordance with the supervisor's direction, issue project updates, alert the supervisor to risks, and provide final reports as requested.
Participate in team development, communication, policy implementation, meetings, and coordination of work according to B.E.S.T. practices.
Foster team cohesion, identify and raise issues that could undermine it, and work collaboratively to resolve them.
Maintain familiarity with Simmons operating systems and company policies, communicate concerns and improvement ideas, and support quality and continuous improvement.
Attend technical meetings to identify opportunities related to processes and products.
Perform other duties as necessary in support of business objectives.