Sr Research Scientist, Nutritional Functional Bars

Herbalife•Torrance, CA

About The Position

The Sr Research Scientist serves as an internal and external food science authority, leading development of innovative nutritional and functional bar products from concept through commercialization. The role partners with North America and Mexico marketing, global strategic sourcing, quality, regulatory, operations, supply chain, and external contract manufacturers to develop products that satisfy consumer expectations, business objectives, quality standards, and manufacturing requirements. The scientist identifies, documents, and validates ingredients, formulations, and processes that meet requirements for cost, quality, safety, and product uniformity. The role also provides technical leadership and mentorship to junior staff and cross-functional teams. The product development team is collaborative, fast-paced, and cross-functional, with a focus on bringing innovative, high-quality food and nutrition products from concept through commercialization. It values scientific rigor, innovation, accountability, open communication, and hands-on problem solving. Success requires working independently while collaborating with diverse teams and influencing decisions throughout the product development lifecycle. The position requires a four-year college or university degree, or equivalent, in Pharmacy, Chemistry, Nutrition Science, or a related field, and at least eight years of product development experience with high-protein, low-sugar, functional, or fortified nutrition bars. It calls for comprehensive practical expertise in bar formulation and process development, ingredient functionality, pilot and commercial manufacturing, and successful commercialization through third-party manufacturers. The role has no supervisory responsibilities.

Requirements

Four-year college or university degree, or equivalent, in Pharmacy, Chemistry, Nutrition Science, or a related field.
At least 8 years of product development experience solving technical problems involving high-protein, low-sugar, functional, or fortified nutrition bars.
Comprehensive knowledge and practical experience in product and process development for functional and nutritional bar formulas.
Significant hands-on experience developing great-tasting nutritional and functional protein bars.
Ability to independently lead a new product development or reformulation project through completion.
Demonstrated success commercializing products through third-party contract manufacturers.
Strong understanding of ingredient functionality, including proteins, fibers, fats, hydrocolloids, sweeteners, vitamins, and minerals.
Experience with pilot-plant operations, process development, scale-up, and commercial manufacturing of nutritional bars.
Knowledge of food processing technologies, including mixing, extrusion, slab forming, depositing, cutting, coating, and packaging.
Familiarity with GMPs, HACCP, FSMA, food safety principles, and regulatory requirements.
Experience working in a GMP environment and leading external partners.
Experience with R&D-interacting functions such as QA, QC, Regulatory, Manufacturing, Sourcing, Supply Chain, and Project Management.
Strong problem-solving, experimental design, statistical analysis, and technical troubleshooting skills.
Ability to communicate effectively and lead in a cross-functional environment, particularly with Marketing and Operations.
Ability to explain technical issues productively to nontechnical staff.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, sound judgment, and decision-making skills.
Ability to navigate a fast-paced environment with multiple partners.
Knowledge of Oracle Life Cycle Management used for product development.
Competence with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and PowerPoint.
Demonstrated experience coaching, training, and motivating product development scientists.
Ability to interact effectively at all organizational levels with sensitivity to diversity.
Demonstrated ability to achieve positive results and add recognized, quantitative value.

Responsibilities

Lead end-to-end development of nutrition, snack, protein, functional, and wellness bars from concept through commercialization.
Develop formulations that meet nutritional, sensory, cost, quality, food safety, labeling, and regulatory requirements.
Evaluate ingredient functionality, ingredient interactions, Maillard reaction, and processing effects to optimize product performance and shelf stability.
Design and conduct laboratory experiments, pilot trials, and manufacturing validations.
Create and optimize formulations using new and existing ingredients, including complex premixes, with limited or no guidance.
Lead prototype development and iterative optimization using sensory evaluation, analytical testing, and consumer feedback.
Work with procurement and supply chain to identify and qualify ingredients and suppliers.
Lead technical relationships with third-party contract manufacturers, providing formulation guidance, troubleshooting, and process optimization.
Prepare technical documentation, including formulations, product specifications, manufacturing instructions, stability protocols, and commercialization reports as needed.
Plan and lead pilot-plant work, scale-up, and commercialization to support timely product launches in North America and Mexico.
Mentor junior scientists and provide technical leadership across cross-functional project teams.
Lead intellectual property and confidentiality matters internally and when working with contract manufacturers.
Develop and maintain a network of vendors, consultants, and educators to demonstrate emerging and enabling technologies and advance new technologies.
Use statistical tools when implementing formula and process changes.
Manage multiple development projects while meeting timelines and business objectives.
Drive speed-to-market initiatives in collaboration with cross-functional teams and follow the New Product Process, testing protocols, Oracle PLM processes, and laboratory notebook documentation practices.
Coach, train, and motivate product development scientists.