Scientist

Colgate • Topeka, KS

24d • Hybrid

About The Position

Our Ingredient Technology team helps drive innovation across our portfolio and is dedicated to enhancing the bond between people and their pets. This team works to discover and implement ingredients that deliver cutting-edge technologies in our premium wet and dry pet food products. We take pride in our commitment to unparalleled quality, ensuring that our foods not only meet, but exceed the expectations of pet parents. This Scientist position will be responsible for ingredient and formulation testing, champion cost-saving initiatives, drive ingredient reliability and sustainability discussions with internal and external partners, and lead critical troubleshooting efforts with our manufacturing plants. In addition, this position will be a key collaborator providing essential support to diverse cross-functional teams, including Global Technology, Procurement, Quality, Supply Chain, and Regulatory, and building strong partnerships with external suppliers.

Requirements

• BS or BA degree in Food Science, Nutrition, Food engineering, Animal Science, or related technical field.
• Minimum 3 years of animal or food industry experience.

Nice To Haves

• Working knowledge of nutritional science.
• MS or PhD in Food Science, Nutrition, Food engineering, Animal Science, or related technical field.
• Demonstrated understanding of thermal processing effects on ingredient functionality, product performance over shelf life, and product design implications of ingredient changes.
• Demonstrated understanding of scaling ingredients and products from pilot to commercial production.
• Experience in product design and development (Preferably sole source nutritional products in animal/human food industry)

Responsibilities

• Support implementation of company’s technology goals by developing products from bench top to commercialization.
• Partner with Net-Ops and Quality, to complete root-cause analysis of operational and/or product issues and implement optimal solutions, including alternate supplier qualifications.
• Lead in technical and cross functional project teams.
• Apply fundamental food science and processing knowledge for optimum ingredient and finished product functionality and nutrition.
• Transform nutrient standards of ingredients and formulations to meet finished product functional, regulatory, and cost standards.
• Coordinate all documents that support the approval and maintenance of Hill’s ingredient portfolio.
• Team with vendors and manufacturing to establish and update ingredient shelf life, storage, and handling.
• Conduct biological and feeding tests to ensure product and ingredient acceptability with the pet.
• Partner with process engineers and manufacturing for synergy in ingredient handling and conveyance within process development.
• Validate alternate ingredient performance through coordination & interpretation of product evaluations including analytical, palatability, sensory, and stability testing.

Benefits

• medical
• dental
• vision
• basic life insurance
• paid parental leave
• disability coverage
• participation in the 401(k) retirement plan with company matching contributions subject to eligibility requirements
• a minimum of 15 vacation/PTO days
• 13 paid holidays
• Paid sick leave is adjusted based on role and location in accordance with local laws.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior