Sr. Product Development Scientist - Blue Buffalo Dry - Golden Valley, MN

$91,900 - $138,000/Yr

General Mills - Golden Valley, MN

Full-time - Mid Level

Remote - Golden Valley, MN

Food Manufacturing

About the position

The Senior Product Development Scientist at General Mills will lead initiatives in the pet food segment, focusing on the ideation, development, and execution of innovative products for Blue Buffalo. This role requires strong collaboration across various departments and emphasizes technical rigor in product development, ensuring food safety and quality while managing multiple complex projects.

Responsibilities

• Provide product development leadership on innovation, core product renovation, and HMM projects.
• Develop robust technical plans and collaborate with peers to strengthen approaches.
• Build a pipeline of activities to deliver new or renovated products in support of strategic business priorities.
• Forge successful cross-functional partnerships to commercialize projects efficiently.
• Champion food safety, pet safety, pet parent insights, and product quality from design through production.
• Manage multiple complex projects from concept through launch, flexing prioritization based on business needs.
• Drive projects forward amidst complexity.
• Demonstrate a sound understanding of pet food product development and formulation.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in food, animal, or meat science, food engineering, or related field with 5+ years product development/processing and commercialization experience, or a Ph.D. in a related field with 3+ years experience.
• Demonstrated strong leadership skills with agility to adapt quickly to changes in project scope.
• Effective communication skills and ability to collaborate in cross-functional and external environments.
• Self-starter with a high bias for action, learning mindset, and passion to challenge assumptions.

Nice-to-haves

• Master's degree in food, animal, or meat science, food engineering, or related field with 5+ years product development/processing experience.
• Pet food development/processing experience in the pet industry or similar experience from an adjacent industry.
• Excellent interpersonal and executional skills, particularly with cross-functional and external supply chain partners.

Benefits

• Competitive Total Rewards package focusing on overall well-being.
• Foundation of health benefits.
• Retirement and financial wellbeing programs.
• Time off programs and wellbeing support.
• Potential participation in an annual incentive program.