Food Scientist

At Butterball, we exist to help people pass love on. As the most recognized name in turkey, the brand represents more than 60 years of cherished memories, providing quality, great-tasting products that make meals something to celebrate every day. We proudly believe that life at Butterball means having a team who supports you, having the opportunity to grow personally and professionally, and making an impact on the health of others daily.

About the role

Guides less complex product development and process improvement efforts in Renovation R&D by organizing, managing, and coordinating key projects from conception to commercialization. Provides technical support to the operations, sales, and marketing teams.

Responsibilities

• Organizes and owns the R&D activities of assigned projects to ensure work is properly prioritized and completed in a timely manner to deliver results.
• Executes new products from conception to commercialization by working with sales, marketing, operation, purchasing, and quality assurance.
• Maintains external and marketplace awareness related to new concepts, products, ingredients, and technologies.
• Engages team members to communicate and guide technical support for development of new products and technologies.
• Identifies and recommends new raw materials, ingredients, materials, and processes that improve products and reduce cost.
• Identifies, tests, and implements new processes and product formulas that lead to new products, cost savings, and quality improvements.
• Provides technical support to operations to ensure product excellence and cost efficiency.
• Provides technical support to the Marketing and Sales teams to service existing customers and help gain new ones.
• Supports continuous improvement opportunities and solutions directed at improving profitability, product quality, food safety, and capital avoidance.
• Seeks to enhance technical skills through project experience, seminars, professional conferences, and training programs.

Requirements

• Minimum bachelor’s degree in food science or related field or equivalent.
• 3+ years of relevant experience or the knowledge, skills, and abilities to succeed in the role.
• Experience managing research and development projects.

Skills

• Solid oral and written communication, analytical, time-management, and human relation skills.
• Firm knowledge in food technology, ingredient technology, and food processing.
• Demonstrated ability to use new technology to significantly improve profitability, product quality, food safety, and manufacturing complexity issues.
• Firm initiation skills with the ability to yield results.
• Technical/functional depth and proficiency in MS Office suite.
• Experience with new product launches, problem-solving, and creative thinking.
• Poultry science or poultry processing experience (preferred).

Physical Demands

• Regularly required to stand, sit, talk, hear, reach, stoop, kneel, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer, telephone, and keyboard.
• Occasionally lift up to 50 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

Working Conditions

• Work will be performed in a variety of conditions including remote work, a climate-controlled office environment, and in a manufacturing plant environment with varying conditions (e.g., cold areas, wet areas, warm areas, chemicals, and other site conditions).
• Requires wearing personal protective equipment while in the manufacturing environment.
• For remote work, must have a dedicated workspace to safely set up and use assigned IT equipment, preferably free from distractions, and ensure adequate internet service (recommended minimum speed: 20mb download and 5mb upload).
• The noise level in the office environment is usually moderate; in the manufacturing environment, it may exceed 85 DBA and require hearing protection.
• Travel up to 50% of the time.
• Requires at least 2 days per week in a manufacturing facility, potentially more pending project needs.

Butterball Core Competencies

• Safety First: We put safety first. The health, safety, and well-being of our people, products, and turkeys is everyone's responsibility.
• Integrity: We trust each other to do the right thing. We act with integrity and gain the confidence and trust of others through honesty, respect, and authenticity.
• Stewardship: We take care of what matters. We are accountable to our commitments and take responsibility for the well-being of our teams, quality, customers, business, brand, and communities.
• Enthusiastic Attitudes: We create a climate where everyone feels they belong and can be engaged, every day. Our people are enthusiastic and motivated to do their best and work together to make great things happen.
• Continuous Improvement: We are committed to continuous improvement. We challenge ourselves and our company to constantly learn, develop, grow, improve, and innovate.