Summary of Position
The Scientist role within the Product Development team is primarily a mid-level product developer role. This function is skilled in the formulation, scale-up, and commercialization of multiple product formats (primarily beverage) but may have more weighted experience in a certain area of function. The Scientist role is proficient in self-management and project prioritization to meet business and customer needs and plays a role with keeping a project team on task. This role has a developing knowledge of the food and beverage industry, holistically, and is a keen innovator amid an ever-changing trend landscape.
Essential Job Duties
- Work across multiple product formats to formulate high quality products for customers, taking responsibility for the design, planning, and execution of varying complexity projects.
- Interact with customers on a regular basis to maintain project momentum and engagement.
- Apply critical thinking, food science and business principles to work through complex, challenging scenarios at bench, pilot, and commercial scales. Leverage internal and external resources for troubleshooting and root cause analysis.
- Drive progress and deliver results on multiple priorities, projects, and timelines concurrently.
- Batch and prepare formulas for processing in the Pilot Plant, as needed with an in-depth working knowledge of relevant processing equipment.
- Provide technical support for varying complexity/risk product trials.
- Conduct analytical testing on raw and finished product samples including but not limited to pH, titratable acidity, total solids/moisture, particle size, Brix, density, viscosity, and color.
- Monitor progress of shelf life for given projects through data analysis and synthesis into comprehensive technical reports.
- Execute other duties as assigned within established SOPs and participate in SOP revision, optimization, and creation with other stakeholders. Participate in training and onboarding initiatives as needed and lead training for any direct reports.
- Follow all Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) guidelines and assist in enforcing policies throughout the organization.
- This role may require travel to manufacturing plants (<20%).
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in food science or related field.
- Minimum 4 years’ experience in a food/beverage manufacturing facility and/or laboratory setting.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office suite including Outlook, Excel, SharePoint, and Word.
- Skilled in data synthesis and technical writing/communication.
- Collaborative and team-oriented mindset and detailed work style.
- Proficiency in self-management and prioritization skills to meet customer and business needs.
- Comfortable with a brisk working pace and environment of changing priorities.
- Must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time.
Preferred Qualifications
- Minimum 3 years’ experience in beverage product development is preferred.
- Skilled in data synthesis and technical writing/communication.
- Comfortable executing presentations to internal stakeholders and external clients.
- Can occasionally move containers of ingredients weighing up to 50 lbs.
Working Conditions
- Typical office setting for most desk work and paperwork.
- Typical food/beverage laboratory and pilot plant setting for all hands-on development work.
- Occasional travel to manufacturing plants.
