Food Scientist

About the role

Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods® is a unique fast-moving, collaborative and results-driven environment. With minimal travel required, we are seeking a Food Scientist to join the Research and Development team.

Responsibilities

• Actively drives product commercialization from concept to launch, supporting food service, retail, and private sector business channels.
• Serves as the R&D point of contact, leading and coordinating technical activities for development projects in collaboration with the project manager to ensure all deliverables are achieved.
• Provides support to improve manufacturing efficiency, enhance quality, and assist in resolving customer inquiries and complaints.
• Work with internal and external customers to deliver new product concepts that meet design specifications in a timely manner.
• Plans, coordinates, and executes product development activities—including sample preparation, trial management, ingredient sourcing, and product maintenance—while supporting and leading departmental initiatives that drive continuous improvement across the development process, including plant trials and sample requests.
• Accurately observes, records, analyzes and reports development data to meet project and customer objectives.
• Supports adherence to development processes and compliance requirements while effectively utilizing systems, with a strong understanding of and alignment to Stage Gate principles for development projects.
• Demonstrate good understanding of quality control and quality assurance methods and standards.
• Ensures compliance with plant safety standards, regulatory requirements, and Good Manufacturing Practices, while maintaining the necessary competencies to support product legality, safety, and quality in alignment with the Quality Policy and GFSI standards.
• Ability to work off shifts as needed. Some travel may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in food science, Food Processing/Engineering or related field
• 3+ years of product development experience in a food manufacturing company
• Technical knowledge of food manufacturing processes, equipment, packaging
• Knowledge of Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance principles related to formulation
• Proven leadership abilities including accountability, resilience, and a strong focus on team success
• Ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to a wide range of intellectual and practical problems
• Demonstrated sense of urgency and sound judgment in a fast-paced environment
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively engage audiences ranging from staff to executive leadership
• Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills using data to draw conclusions and implement solutions
• Ability to work independently or as part of a team to accomplish organization goals
• Proficiency using a personal computer (PC) and related software, ideally Microsoft Office Software and Tools