R&D Food Scientist

The R&D Food Scientist - RFF (Refrigerated & Frozen R&D Platform) within Maker's Pride (MP) is a technical position within the greater R&D team that requires a self-motivated, technically experienced, customer focused candidate who will work comfortably cross functionally on the New Bakery & Innovation Business Platform (NBI) with Operations, Sales, Quality, Regulatory, Marketing, Supply Chain, Procurement, Finance, Project Management and Engineering to drive results within Maker's Pride. The R&D Food Scientist enables business decisions to be made by providing technical expertise, capability and execution in the formulation, process development and commercialization of new products, within Regulatory and Food Safety requirements, across multiple MP plant locations within the 29 plant MP organization. This candidate requires creativity, innovative thinking, interpersonal effectiveness, effective project management skills, a depth of technical food processing knowledge and the ability to collaborate/mentor/lead with other professionals, within MP and outside with customers, both locally and domestically to achieve common goals. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES / WHAT YOU GET TO DO: * Project Management: * Participates or leads some new RFF projects in the RFF Platform from ingredient sourcing, reformulating, cost management and product life cycle maintenance * * This position requires an individual to balance multiple assignments/tasks concurrently and demonstrate the ability to work independently or to lead a team within R&D * Follows goals, writes up Maker's Pride specifications and updates customer specifications through TraceGains or other portals/hubs. Participates in full-scale production plant trials * * Works closely in cross-functional teams including Operations, Quality, Regulatory, Food Safety and Finance to design food products that meet nutrition guidelines, claims on pack and can be produced cost effectively across the many MP plants domestically. Enables business decisions and results through clear communication of technical results to management * Upon completion of successful trials this Food Scientist, with their Managers approval, will then turnover the production phase to Operations with set specifications, process instructions, appropriate yields and run rates * * Understands the business need, designs, implements tests, analyzes data, draws conclusions, documents, communicates results, and commercializes products * * Positively and proactively interacts with customers, prospects, R&D management and all colleagues to keep projects on track. Constructive technical relationship building, trust and communication skills are key to success in this role * * Travels and collaborates with plant personnel in production facilities on issues with existing processes * * Assists, other R&D platforms, upon availability to drive improvements in production processes to ensure consistency, efficiency, and waste reduction in manufacturing across production lines * * Leadership: * Collaborates cross functionally within MP platform teams (Bars, Bakery, Refrigerated & Frozen and Packaging) as needed. Works comfortably with suppliers and manufacturing facilities * * This role involves completing RFF projects ensuring that all products meet quality, cost, safety, and market standards while business decisions are made effectively and timely * Fosters a collaborative and innovative environment * * Identifies and evaluates food trends quarterly with the Marketing Insights team that supports the business vision and customer strategy within a rolling 2-year horizon * * Develops a working knowledge of what MP food processing lines are capable of manufacturing * * Product Development: * Works on incoming new projects from the weekly CFL meetings, that the RFF Manager deems viable and strategic * Conducts bench, pilot plant and production trials on new projects * May work on new formulas within targeted costs for Private Label projects Communicates co-manufacturing developments for key customers through the promotion of our manufacturing services and capabilities. This includes specifying ingredients, process parameters, developing ingredient statements and calculated nutritional statements through formulation software, sample production, profit thresholds, ordering analysis of samples to be sent to a third-party lab and sample validation before shipping to customers and Maker's Pride R&D management * Translates market trends and the consumer/business needs into innovative products and packages that can be commercialized in a fast-paced environment * Ingredient Sourcing & Research: * Develops knowledge of suppliers, food manufacturers, trends, technological advancements, and ingredient innovations, incorporating them into product development * Influences, manages projects/people, and solves problems effectively and efficiently * Brings an entrepreneurial spirit and growth mindset with new ingredients to reduce formulation material costs * Cost and Process Optimization: * Proactively works with Procurement and suppliers to source innovative ingredients that align with product goals and enhance margin * Provides training and support to Operations staff on new recipes and processes * Product Testing & Quality Control: * Conducts testing to ensure product quality, safety, consistency and regulatory compliance * Drives Sensory evaluations and consumer testing to ensure products meet desired standards * Tests products for shelf life, storage stability, and packaging suitability * Customer & Market Focus: * Stays up-to-date quarterly on RFF trends and competitive products with Marketing Insights * Stays up-to-date with industry developments, ingredients, and emerging technologies * Engages with customers and marketing teams to ensure that products meet consumer preferences and brand positioning * Attends industry conferences, trade shows, and meetings with customers while identifying market needs and new business opportunities * Regulatory & Compliance: * Collaborates with the Regulatory team to ensure all product formulations comply with food safety regulations and labeling standards * Works with Legal and Regulatory teams to manage product claims, certifications (e.g., gluten-free, organic) and ingredient transparency * Collaboration: * Ability to manage a high-volume workflow in a fast paced, action-oriented environment * * Works closely with cross-functional teams including Business Development, Supply Chain, and Packaging to develop products that drive revenue results to meet the company's goals * Communicates findings, challenges, and solutions effectively with stakeholders at various levels on regular intervalsand through structured 1:1s * KEY COMPETENCIES / WHAT WE WANT FROM YOU * Working knowledge of commercial RFF production equipment and processes is preferred * Proven experience in developing and scaling up RFF products cost effectively in a commercial setting * Excellent project management, critical thinking, organizational, leadership skills & communication * Proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, SAP (or other ERP software), To view the full job description please use the link below. 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