Food Scientist - Meat Formulation

About the Company

Our client is a well-established food manufacturer with more than 50 years of success supplying innovative protein, sauce, and bakery products to major retailers, foodservice distributors, and leading quick-service restaurant brands across North America. The organization offers the stability of a long-standing business combined with the agility and visibility of a mid-sized company, providing employees with the opportunity to make a significant impact on product innovation and business growth.

About the Role

Highly visible role where you'll partner closely with Operations, Quality, Purchasing, and leadership teams to create and improve protein products across beef, pork, and poultry categories. This position offers hands-on involvement throughout the entire product development lifecycle, from formulation and benchtop work to plant trials, scale-up, and market launch.

Responsibilities

• Lead the formulation and development of USDA-regulated meat products, including beef, pork, and poultry.
• Develop new recipes, processing procedures, and product specifications for new product launches, customer requests, and cost optimization initiatives.
• Plan, execute, and evaluate product trials, pilot runs, and commercial scale-up activities.
• Conduct sensory evaluations, shelf-life studies, and competitive product assessments.
• Work cross-functionally with Operations, Quality, Purchasing, and Maintenance teams to ensure successful commercialization.
• Support continuous improvement efforts related to formulation, ingredient functionality, quality, and manufacturing efficiency.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Meat Science, or a related discipline.
• 2+ years of USDA meat formulation experience; 3+ years preferred.
• Hands-on experience developing and formulating meat protein products.
• Strong understanding of meat ingredients, seasonings, flavors, binders, and ingredient functionality.
• Experience conducting sensory evaluations and shelf-life studies.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with nutritional analysis software such as ESHA Genesis or similar platforms.
• Experience supporting products through full commercialization and plant scale-up.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation package including annual bonus potential.
• Paid time off (PTO).
• Comprehensive benefits.
• Highly visible position with direct interaction across multiple business functions and senior leadership.
• Exposure to every stage of product development from concept through launch.
• Work on products sold through major retail, foodservice, and restaurant channels.
• Join a growing, financially stable food manufacturer with a strong industry reputation.

Pay

Salary of $90,000 to $105,000.