R&D Scientist - US
About The Position
This role is an opportunity to influence products from the earliest idea through full-scale production, while helping shape innovation in a brand-new R&D environment. The scientist will lead product innovation, new product development projects from concept through commercialization, and improve existing products. They will also translate bench-top concepts into commercially viable products and manufacturing processes, lead plant trials, scale-ups, and new product start-ups. Additionally, the role involves building the technical foundation by developing formulations, specifications, and managing nutritional information, as well as partnering across the business to serve as an R&D subject matter expert.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Culinary Science or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant food-industry experience
- 4+ years of new product development experience, including taking products from idea through commercialization
- Experience formulating better-for-you products, including USDA Organic products
- Hands-on experience with food manufacturing and scale-up
- Experience with a nutritional database is required
Nice To Haves
- Experience with cereal extrusion, baking and/or snack manufacturing is preferred
- Experience working within a stage-gate product-development process is an asset
- Familiarity with PLM systems, supply chain software, Microsoft Office and/or Asana is helpful
- Experience within a large CPG organization, high-growth food company or start-up environment is an asset
Responsibilities
- Lead product innovation
- Lead new product development projects from concept and formulation through commercialization
- Develop prototypes across multiple product categories and present concepts to Marketing, leadership and other stakeholders
- Design and execute product development experiments, interpret results and recommend next steps
- Stay current on emerging food technologies, ingredients, processing methods and industry trends
- Improve existing products through ingredient, nutritional, cost and product-quality optimization
- Translate bench-top concepts into commercially viable products and manufacturing processes
- Lead plant trials, scale-ups and new product start-ups with company manufacturing sites and co-manufacturing partners
- Establish processing parameters and work with Plant Operations to optimize production runs
- Lead pre- and post-production reviews for new product launches
- Travel to Nature’s Path manufacturing facilities and external partners for trials, scale-up and product support, up to 25%
- Develop formulations, product specifications, ingredient specifications, processing parameters and label declarations
- Manage nutritional information and nutritional database entries for new and revised products
- Coordinate third-party laboratory testing and partner with Quality on shelf-life testing and deviations
- Maintain accurate product-development documentation and company systems
- Apply working knowledge of food regulations, including USDA Organic requirements and California Proposition 65, while building knowledge of requirements in other global markets
- Serve as an R&D subject matter expert throughout the product-development process
- Partner with Finance and Supply Chain to develop product P&Ls and assess commercial feasibility
- Work with Supply Chain to evaluate alternative ingredients and suppliers while protecting quality and product performance
- Create product samples for Sales, Marketing and leadership as required
- Balance multiple development projects and commercialization timelines
Benefits
- 10% annual bonus
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
