Senior Scientist, Product Development, Pet R&D

The J.M. Smucker Co.•Orrville, OH

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Scientist, Product Development, Pet Research & Development translates consumer needs and business priorities into technical requirements, product designs, and scalable solutions for pet food and snacks. The role leads complex product-development work from concept through commercialization, supporting innovation, renovation, value engineering, and business-support initiatives. It also advances technical capabilities, provides expertise and mentorship to other product developers, and counsels leadership within areas of technical focus. The position is based in Orrville, Ohio, with a hybrid arrangement requiring 60% or more in-office presence as business needs require. Travel may be up to 30% annually. The work includes collaboration with cross-functional teams and external partners, as well as activities in laboratories, pilot plants, and manufacturing environments.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or higher in Food Science, Chemistry, Biology, Nutrition, Engineering Technology, Chemical Engineering, Food Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or a related scientific or engineering discipline.
At least 8 years of relevant Research & Development or comparable technical experience.
Demonstrated product-development experience and ability to lead work from technical definition through commercialization.
Experience designing and executing experiments and analyzing technical data to draw conclusions and make recommendations.
Demonstrated ability to solve complex problems, manage multiple priorities, and work independently with guidance in complex situations.
Ability to build productive relationships and influence shared goals across technical and cross-functional teams.
Ability and willingness to travel up to 30% and drive a company or rental vehicle as needed.
Ability to walk, stand, or sit for extended periods and perform work that may involve lifting, bending, carrying, and standing.
Ability to work and move safely around laboratories, pilot plants, manufacturing processes, and equipment.
Ability to climb stairs or ladders when required for plant or equipment access.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree, such as a Master’s degree or PhD, in a relevant scientific or engineering discipline.
Pet food and/or pet snack formulation and product-development experience.
Experience with food processes such as extrusion, thermal processing, baking, drying, coating, or related unit operations.
Experience in a food-manufacturing environment and with scale-up at internal or co-manufacturing facilities.
Experience with formulation software, statistical analysis, and design of experiments (DoE).
Working knowledge of product lifecycle systems, claims substantiation, intellectual property, patent processes, and competitive product assessment.

Responsibilities

Lead formulation and product development for innovation, renovation, value engineering, and business-support initiatives from concept through commercialization.
Interpret CPG industry and company challenges and recommend best practices to improve products, processes, or services.
Translate consumer needs, product briefs, and business priorities into technical requirements, design criteria, learning plans, and product models.
Design, plan, coordinate, and execute experiments from benchtop through pilot-plant and manufacturing scale; analyze data, interpret results, and recommend next steps.
Apply knowledge of ingredient functionality, nutrition, sensory and palatability, shelf life, processing, operational feasibility, claims, cost, and consumer acceptance to develop product solutions.
Solve complex technical problems using scientific rigor, critical thinking, creativity, and new perspectives.
Lead technical and cross-functional teams on projects with moderate-to-high complexity, risk, or resource requirements, collaborating with Operations, Quality, Marketing, Finance, Procurement, Regulatory, Packaging, and external partners.
Work independently within broad guidelines and seek leadership guidance when decisions may significantly affect a function or the organization.
Initiate and lead technology or capability advances in an area of technical expertise, and serve as a technical resource and mentor to less-experienced colleagues.
Communicate project status, experimental results, conclusions, risks, and go/no-go recommendations to project teams, R&D leadership, and other stakeholders.
Maintain accurate formulas, specifications, claims support, laboratory notebooks, invention records, technical reports, and other product lifecycle documentation.
Identify and assess external technologies, ingredients, competitive products, scientific literature, patents, intellectual-property opportunities, and legal considerations.