Senior Food Scientist

About This Role

Serving as a key resource across multiple teams, the Senior Food Scientist drives product development initiatives and establishes operational objectives for the food science function. This role leads new formulations, identifies opportunities in current and future products, and mentors a direct report. This position suits a professional with strong experience in food manufacturing R&D who thrives in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Create products based on ingredient functionality, nutritional targets, consumer need, claim substantiation, operational feasibility, and financial targets, bringing products from concept through commercialization
• Design, execute, and document bench-top experiments to evaluate ingredient functionality, texture, palatability, nutritional density, and processing behavior
• Apply DOE principles to efficiently optimize formulations against nutritional targets, cost constraints, and consumer acceptance criteria
• Maintain rigorous lab notebooks and experimental records that support regulatory submissions, IP filings, and internal knowledge management
• Assist with pilot facility maintenance and management, including equipment maintenance and sanitation, as well as ingredient inventory and management
• Prepare, label, and ship product samples for internal evaluation, external sensory panels, analytical testing, and feeding trials, maintaining chain-of-custody documentation and cold-chain integrity throughout
• Analyze data from plant trials, proximate and nutrient analyses, feeding trials, and shelf-life studies; and translate findings into clear conclusions and actionable recommendations
• Fully own all trial and experiment documentation, ensuring all information is clear, articulate, and accessible for relevant stakeholders
• Author, own, and maintain ingredient, WIP, and finished product specifications; and manage version control through product life cycle changes
• Develop and communicate project timelines and costs, and proactively surface risks or changes to senior leadership
• Proactively work with cross-functional team members in Manufacturing, Operations, Product, Animal Healthcare, and Customer Experience to drive alignment and execution
• Coordinate academic research partnerships

Requirements

• 8+ years of experience in R&D or Product Development in the food manufacturing industry, with a demonstrated track record of taking products from concept to commercialization
• Bachelor's Degree (or higher) in Animal Science, Food Science, or a related field
• Demonstrated experience managing or mentoring direct reports, with a track record of developing talent and driving team results
• Direct, caring, and persuasive communicator who establishes rapport easily with people on cross-functional teams and other key collaborators