Sr Sci, R&D - Product Dev

Kraft Heinz • Glenview, IL

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Sr. Scientist, Away From Home and KHI leads product development across medium- to high-complexity projects, supporting innovation, renovation, and brand maintenance across a broad portfolio. The role translates business needs into practical development plans and drives technical execution from formulation through scale-up and commercialization. It calls for strong technical judgment, project management, and problem-solving skills, as well as the ability to manage competing priorities, collaborate across functions, and maintain disciplined execution and documentation.

The position works with cross-functional partners, technical experts, category scientists, manufacturing plants, co-manufacturers, suppliers, and other business locations. It supports plant operations through troubleshooting, process design, and product-quality problem solving, and conducts testing, qualification, and trials in laboratory, pilot plant, and production environments. The role is based at the Glenview R&D Center in a hybrid schedule, with in-office presence at least three days per week and approximately 30% travel.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Life Sciences, or a related field, plus at least 4 years of relevant product development experience in CPG, food and beverage, or a related industry; alternatively, a master’s degree plus at least 3 years of relevant experience, or a PhD plus at least 2 years of relevant experience.
• Strong knowledge of ingredients, product formulation, processing systems, ingredient interactions, and laboratory test methods.
• Proven ability to lead product development and commercialization work across multiple projects and priorities.
• Strong communication, project management, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment with changing priorities.
• Strong technical judgment and ability to design experiments, interpret results, and adjust plans as needed.
• Self-motivated, with the ability to deliver results and take ownership in a complex environment.
• Ability to collaborate across functions and work effectively in a team environment.
• Flexibility and ability to learn new products, technologies, and processes quickly.
• Willingness to travel 30%, including to internal plants, co-manufacturers, suppliers, and other business locations within the United States.

Responsibilities

• Lead product development across multiple cross-functional projects and product categories, including innovation, renovation, and brand maintenance.
• Independently lead development projects from formulation through scale-up and start-up.
• Translate business objectives into development plans and drive execution from concept through commercialization.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to advance projects, resolve technical issues, and deliver against business timelines.
• Serve as an R&D point person for manufacturing plants, supporting troubleshooting, process design, and product-quality issues.
• Lead product testing, qualification, and commercialization activities in laboratory, pilot plant, and production environments.
• Apply technical judgment to product, ingredient, process, and formulation challenges; develop recommendations and contingency plans based on findings.
• Communicate technical findings, recommendations, risks, and implications clearly and promptly to cross-functional stakeholders.
• Manage technical timelines, raise risks and issues proactively, and adjust plans as needed.
• Manage multiple priorities and identify tradeoffs, resource constraints, and priority conflicts across initiatives, including planned and unplanned brand maintenance work.
• Work with technical experts, category scientists, and cross-functional partners to understand technologies, applications, and business needs.
• Monitor emerging trends and competitive activity within assigned categories.
• Assist in scoping early-stage innovation ideas and participate in ideation sessions.
• Conduct laboratory, pilot plant, and manufacturing trials to optimize formulations and processing systems.
• Write specifications and maintain documentation that supports consistent, high-quality products.
• Learn and support new categories, technologies, and processing areas as business needs require.

Benefits

• Performance-based bonus eligibility.
• Healthcare coverage for employees and eligible dependents.
• Dental insurance.
• Vision insurance.
• Paid time off.
• Company holidays.
• Leave of absence.
• Flexible work arrangements.
• Recognition programs.
• Training and learning opportunities.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Wellbeing programs.
• Family support programs.
• 401(k).
• Life insurance.
• Accidental death and dismemberment coverage.
• Disability coverage.

What This Job Offers

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