RD&A Senior Scientist

Kerry Group•Beloit, WI

26d•$70,100 - $122,000•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a highly motivated RD&A Scientist – Dairy Applications to support the research, development, and commercialization of innovative dairy solutions. This role is hands‑on and customer‑facing, working across the full development cycle — from concept through commercialization — including pilot plant trials, scale‑up, and technical troubleshooting. The ideal candidate has strong dairy formulation and processing experience, enjoys working directly with customers, and thrives in a fast‑paced, collaborative environment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Dairy Science, Chemistry, Biology, Engineering, or a related applied science
Minimum 5 years of experience in dairy product development or dairy applications
Strong background in dairy chemistry, sensory science, microbiology, and food processing
Hands‑on experience with cultured dairy, cheese, dairy beverages, or dairy systems
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Strong problem‑solving skills with the ability to work independently and collaboratively
Proficiency in Microsoft Office (SAP experience is a plus)
Ability to effectively lead technical project teams
Ability to taste and smell dairy products, ingredients, and flavors
Ability to stand for extended periods in laboratory and pilot plant environments
Ability to lift up to insert weight requirement lbs
Willingness to travel as needed

Nice To Haves

5+ years of experience in dairy development or applications
MS or PhD in Food Science, Dairy Science, or Food Engineering
Experience with Cultures and enzymes
Experience with Emulsification and stabilization
Experience with Thermal processing
Experience with Shelf‑life and microbiological testing
Demonstrated ability to drive continuous improvement and change management initiatives.

Responsibilities

Conduct research including new dairy product development and improvement of existing dairy formulations
Develop and optimize formulations, processes, and systems for dairy processing, production, quality control, and packaging
Work in the pilot plant and support production scale‑ups and commercializations of dairy products
Support internal and external customer projects from conceptual phase through commercialization and troubleshooting
Participate in ideation and brainstorming sessions for dairy innovation
Develop gold standards in collaboration with Culinary teams and Dairy Subject Matter Experts (SMEs)
Perform competitive product matching and dairy formulation optimization
Execute projects from concept to commercialization, following Kerry internal processes
Understand and troubleshoot customer dairy processing challenges (e.g., fermentation, heat treatment, texture, stability)
Serve as a key member of the customer‑facing technical team, delivering dairy solutions that “Nourish and Delight”
Coordinate with Sales and Culinary partners during customer meetings and technical presentations
Collaborate cross‑functionally to deliver best‑in‑class Taste and Nutrition dairy solutions
Develop and protect Intellectual Property by documenting research and development work
Study and apply methods to improve dairy product quality, including Flavor and aroma, Texture and mouthfeel, Nutrition and functionality, Shelf life and microbiological stability
Manage project timelines effectively to meet customer and business needs
Travel to Kerry manufacturing facilities and customer sites as required