Senior Scientist, Product Development for Sweet Baked Snacks

J.M. Smucker Co • Columbus, OH

28d • Hybrid

About The Position

Leverage your technical leadership, creativity, and execution to help deliver the next generation of beloved snack brands. Lead hands-on product development and formulation work—designing experiments, analyzing results, and delivering insights that shape products from concept to launch. As a recognized product expert, you'll influence project direction, collaborate across functions, and bring ideas to life through work in the lab, pilot plant, manufacturing sites, and with consumers.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Bakery Science, or a related science, engineering, or technology discipline
• 7+ years of product development, formulation, or R&D experience within the food, beverage, bakery, or consumer packaged goods industry
• Experience developing and commercializing products from concept through scale-up and launch.
• Experience designing and executing experiments, analyzing data, and translating findings into actionable recommendations.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex projects and influence decisions across cross-functional teams, including Marketing, Operations, Engineering, Packaging, and Sales.
• Deep knowledge of food formulation including food safety, nutrition, shelf-life management, and interaction with process and packaging.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present technical information to diverse audiences.
• Proven ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and thrive in a fast-paced, innovation-driven environment.
• Ability to lift up to 30 lbs.
• Ability to travel up to 30% (travel frequency dependent on product launch pipeline).

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree in food science or bakery science
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements, product claims, intellectual property, and patent opportunities.
• Experience leading pilot plant and manufacturing trials and supporting product launches.
• Experience working in bakery science
• Culinary experience

Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical leader, subject matter expert, and product advocate for the Sweet Baked Snacks portfolio.
• Lead cross-functional collaboration with Marketing, Insights, Product Research, Packaging, Sales, Engineering, and Operations to develop innovative products and technologies that drive growth.
• Independently design and develop products based on consumer insights, business objectives, and project learning plans.
• Formulate products that meet consumer, nutritional, operational, regulatory, and financial requirements.
• Design and execute product development activities from concept through commercialization, including benchtop, pilot plant, and manufacturing scale-up.
• Analyze and interpret technical data, translating findings into clear recommendations for stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• Partner across R&D and the broader organization to integrate ideas, leverage expertise, and advance project objectives.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation, including specifications, reports, project updates, data analyses, and laboratory records.
• Provide technical leadership and support to commercialization teams to ensure successful product launches.
• Identify and evaluate regulatory, environmental, and intellectual property opportunities and risks, including patent development and strategy.
• Drive innovation, product optimization, cost savings, and problem-solving initiatives across the portfolio.
• Mentor and develop early-career scientists, fostering technical growth and capability building.

Benefits

• The Right Place for You We are bold, kind, strive to do the right thing, we play to win, and we believe in a strong community that thrives together. Our culture is rooted in our Basic Beliefs , and we believe in supporting every employee by meeting their physical, emotional, and financial needs.

What This Job Offers

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