R&D Scientist

Ornua Co-operative Limited•Town of Woodville, WI

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The R&D Scientist collaborates cross-functionally with R&D/Innovation, Sales, Procurement, Finance, and Quality Assurance to drive product development, functionality, and commercial readiness. Key responsibilities include leading product optimization initiatives, conducting material risk assessments, mentoring team members, and managing projects with a strong focus on ROI, operational efficiency, and successful commercialization. The Scientist designs and executes experiments, evaluates emerging technologies, and supports sensory analysis and shelf-life studies to ensure product quality and performance. Leveraging strong planning, technical, and project management skills, this role effectively coordinates activities from concept through production implementation. Additionally, the R&D Scientist may directly supervise Technologists and Technicians, providing leadership, coaching, performance management, and professional development support to foster a high-performing team.

Requirements

Self-motivated aptitude with a progressive approach and a sense of urgency.
Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to work cooperatively in a team environment.
Adept to transfer scientific knowledge to operational and practical applications.
Excellent verbal/written communication skills
Excellent analytical, and organizational skills
Write professional reports, prepare presentations and other business correspondence
Work as a member of a team
Excellent people skills with ability to work with individuals from different disciplines
Proficient computer skills.
Able to manage time effectively to meet deadlines and adjust appropriately to changes in priorities.
Ability to travel 25% of their time to other OINA locations, customer sites and industry events
Willing and able to taste and conduct sensory analysis on a variety of dairy and nondairy food products
Bachelor’s degree in Food, Dairy, or related scientific field with at least 5 years of industrial experience or advanced degree (MS/PhD) in closely related scientific field with at least 3 years of experience and/or acquired knowledge and experience in the field of dairy ingredients and non-dairy ingredients and their quality, functionality and interactions within cheese matrix.
Experienced in developing standardized/non-standardized processed cheese or imitation cheese
Experience working in application lab, pilot plant systems and with laboratory instrumentation.
Experience working in Food industry - B2B product development, formulation, and commercialization of cheese/dairy/food products
Familiarity with FDA Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) cheese standards, and dairy products guidelines, definitions, nutritional and labeling claims.
Experience or familiarity working with starch systems, protein matrices and/or plant-based cheese
Working knowledge of sensory science and texture analysis techniques

Nice To Haves

Lean Six Sigma experience/certification or likewise preferred
Culinary experience designing custom applications with custom cheese ingredients will be a plus

Responsibilities

Provides strong expertise and technical leadership on new product development, functionality in end products, and commercializing them in collaboration within R&D/Innovation, and cross-collaboration with commercial (sales), procurement, finance, and quality assurance departments.
Supervises and coaches Technologists and Technicians
Conducts optimization projects based on sound understanding and knowledge of OINA capabilities
Mentors and upskill others on technical leadership, project management, material risk assessment
Initiates and drives projects, focusing on ROI, efficiency to address short-term and long-term business needs & support other projects as needed
Develops and commercializes high quality, innovative, efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable cheese solutions
Contributes to determine new approaches within existing business and to identify new business opportunities
Conducts pilot and production plant experiments to test and develop new products and processes.
As necessary, conducts laboratory evaluations on composition and functionality of products and ingredients
Investigates new technologies for producing safe, high quality food products
Participates in on-going sensory/organoleptic analyses and shelf-life studies of Ornua products as required
Uses planning and organization, time management, and project management skills to deliver results
Establishes control limits for production items and manages process/formulation changes.
All other responsibilities as assigned