R&D Scientist - US

Nature's Path•Oak Brook, IL

8h•$90,000 - $100,000•Hybrid

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 built for what comes next. The R&D Scientist will lead product innovation, take products from bench to production, build the technical foundation for products, and partner across the business. This position requires a Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Culinary Science or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant food-industry experience, with at least 4 years of new product development experience. Experience formulating better-for-you and USDA Organic products, hands-on food manufacturing and scale-up experience, and experience with a nutritional database are required. 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. Experience with cereal extrusion, baking, and/or snack manufacturing is preferred, as is experience working within a stage-gate product-development process.

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 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.