Senior Food Scientist

Novolex • Cedar Rapids, IA

37d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Food Scientist will provide Food Science/Food Engineering expertise to the Equipment group of Novolex. This position provides consultation services to customers, sales, service, and engineering on Food Science issues, Food Engineering issues, and Food Safety issues. This position is responsible for keeping up to date on Food Science/Food Engineering issues related to Pactiv Evergreen equipment division.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required in Food Science, Food Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• Active membership in the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) required
• 5-10 years of relevant professional experience in Food Safety, Dairy Science, Dairy Processing, or a related food manufacturing environment.
• Strong organizational and project management skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams and lead initiatives
• Action oriented
• Organizing & priority setting
• Problem solving
• Process oriented
• Drive for results
• Time management
• Customer focus
• Interpersonal effectiveness
• Adaptability and ambiguity management
• Functional technical skills
• Learning agility
• Continuous learning and development
• Ability to travel up to 50%
• Ability to safely and successfully perform the essential job functions consistent with the ADA, FMLA and other federal, state and local standards, including meeting qualitative and/or quantitative productivity standards.
• Ability to maintain regular, punctual attendance consistent with the ADA, FMLA and other federal, state and local standards.
• Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 lbs.

Responsibilities

• Consult with the engineering team on sanitary system design, 3A and Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO) compliance issues.
• Consult with the sales team on food science/food engineering concepts with end customers.
• Consult with SQF Practitioner on food science issues where answers are needed promptly.
• Consult with end customers on plant design and food science issues.
• Stay up to date on processing issues in the areas that we sell machines in.
• Stay up to date on changes to the 3A standards and manage the seat for the 3A website.
• Stay up to date on the PMO and any changes that affect Pactiv Evergreen Equipment.
• Stay current on plant design within the markets we serve.
• Work with the service team to troubleshoot food science problems with our equipment.
• Work with end customers to assist in troubleshooting food science issues with our equipment installed in their plant.
• Develop and deliver training programs for engineering personnel on best practices for designing sanitary systems that comply with 3A standards.
• Provide hands-on guidance and mentorship to engineers to ensure compliance is embedded in design processes.
• Create and maintain training materials, including presentations, documentation, and design checklists to reinforce 3A standards.
• Conduct periodic reviews of engineering designs to identify and address compliance gaps and provide corrective feedback.
• Train engineering personnel to diagnose and resolve food science issues encountered in the field.
• Develop troubleshooting protocols and share best practices for addressing food science challenges in customer facilities.
• Organize workshops or on-site training sessions to build engineers’ confidence and expertise in managing field-related food science problems.

Benefits

• medical insurance
• dental insurance
• vision insurance
• variety of other well-being resources focused on mental, physical and financial health
• Tuition Reimbursement Program (Non-Union)

What This Job Offers

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