Sr. Scientist / Principal Product Development Scientist

Ocean Spray Cranberries • Lakeville, MN

306d

About The Position

Ocean Spray is hiring for a(n) Sr. Scientist / Principal Product Development Scientist! We’re a team of farmers, thinkers, creators, and doers. Whatever your title, whatever your role — it always comes back to this: we’re a farmer-owned co-op where everyone rolls up their sleeves to get the job done. Three maverick farmers started it all — and we’ve been making our own way ever since. Ocean Spray's Product Development and Culinary Innovation team (PDCI) is hiring! Our mission is to craft product innovation with industry-leading technical knowledge to deliver products consumers crave and benefits they trust. We are seeking a Senior Product Development Scientist or Principal Product Development Scientist with in-depth technical knowledge and expertise to create innovative food and beverage products. The Senior/Principal Scientist will design and execute experiments using sound scientific methods and technical rigor while building new technical capabilities for Ocean Spray and its strategic partners.

Requirements

• BS in Food Science, Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, or similar discipline with over six years of relevant experience and a strong track record of product development in the Food/Beverage industry.
• Strong working knowledge of food science fundamentals including chemistry, flavors, quality control, sensory, processing technologies, and relevant regulations and laws.
• Comfortable working in the lab, pilot plant, and manufacturing settings.
• Willingness to be hands-on in conducting experiments, developing hypotheses, and resolving challenges.
• Strong interpersonal skills and technical communication skills to influence key stakeholders both inside and outside of the Research, Development & Sustainability department.
• Agile and adaptable; ability to effectively react to scope changes and navigate through ambiguity.
• Strong attention to detail while understanding impacts on broader strategic project objectives.
• Demonstrates a willingness to evaluate a wide range of flavors and tastes on a regular basis and does not have any food allergies.

Nice To Haves

• At least 10 years of relevant experience for Principal Product Development Scientist.
• CPG Product Development experience and an advanced degree are preferred.
• Robust experience designing and executing experiments, analyzing data with statistics, and making recommendations based on data.
• Mentorship skills and willingness to coach more junior scientists on relevant scientific principles, effective experimental design and data analysis.
• Identify, develop and implement new technologies related to product formulation or processing.
• Strong grasp of technical project management.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and execution of project experiments including bench-top, pilot plant, and production plant trials.
• Develop product formulations based on a fundamental understanding of ingredient functionality, food chemistry, flavor, stability, and process interactions.
• Assess new products and/or ingredient propositions with strong technical rigor and thorough risk assessments.
• Analyze product scale-up compatibility, anticipate potential risks and identify contingency plans.
• Collaborate with Marketing, Consumer Insights, Sensory Science and cross functional partners to develop learning plans that uncover consumer needs and product innovation opportunities.
• Be creative, curious, and inspired to develop new product ideas and prototypes.

Benefits

• Complete insurance package on Day-1 that includes a plethora of health and wellness programs.
• Health, Dental, and Vision insurance.
• Health savings account.
• Flexible spending account.
• Life and accident insurance.
• Employee assistance program.
• Telehealth services.
• Fertility benefits.
• Transgender benefits.
• 1:1 health coaching and more.
• 401(k) with up to 6% Company matching; additional potential discretionary match at year-end.
• Short-Term Incentive/Performance bonuses.
• Flexible scheduling options.
• Vacation pay, up to three weeks of time (pro-rated for your first year of employment).
• Holiday pay for 12 holidays.
• Career development and growth opportunities.
• Tuition/Education assistance programs.
• Access to LinkedIn Learning.
• Scholarship programs for children of employees.
• Parental leave.
• Bright Horizons Family Solutions – Back-up care, tutoring, etc.
• Adoption assistance.
• Bereavement leave.
• Up to $300 fitness reimbursement.
• Up to $300 massage reimbursement.
• Employee appreciation events.
• Employee discounts.
• Charitable giving.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree