Food Scientist - Meat Snacks

Reporting to the Research and Development Director, you will utilize your meat science expertise to support innovation and margin expansion across our premium meat snacks brands Fatty and Duke’s. With a curiosity for consumer demand and food trends, you will work in our Innovation Tech Center in downtown Chicago to create innovations that are an asset to Conagra’s snacking portfolio.

Responsibilities

• Develop new meat snack products from concept through successful commercialization.
• Conduct plant trials and support new product startups.
• Plan, prioritize, and complete projects while maintaining accurate and complete records.
• Work with pilot plant equipment under guidance.
• Conceptualize and develop innovative product prototypes.
• Utilize online specification systems to document and manage product information.
• Design experiments and prepare results for technical review.
• Understand consumer demand spaces and translate insights into new product concepts.
• Lead product cuttings, plant trials, and product testing activities.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe work environment, including cleaning equipment, utensils, and work surfaces.
• Collaborate with cross-functional partners to ensure successful product development and commercialization.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Meat Science, Animal Science, or a related field.
• 3+ years of relevant food product development experience specifically with meat products.
• Experience developing meat-based food products.
• Knowledge of ingredient functionality and cost savings initiatives.
• Curiosity for consumer trends, innovation, and the consumer packaged goods industry.
• Knowledge of food product design, formulation, process design, scale-up, plant testing, and commercialization.
• Strong organization, project management, and communication skills.
• Experience working in laboratory, pilot plant, and manufacturing environments.

Physical Requirements

This role may require you to be in our manufacturing facilities. When visiting these sites, the physical requirements below may apply:

• You may be required to walk around the facility, climb stairs/ladders, kneel, or perform repetitive tasks that require hand-eye coordination.
• You may be required to lift or carry materials that can vary in weight and size.
• This is a manufacturing environment with large, moving equipment. Noise levels can be high, and temperatures may vary.

Schedule

Number of Days in Office: 4

Pay

The annual salary listed above is the expected offering for this position. An employee’s actual annual salary will be based on but not limited to: location, relevant experience/level and skillset, while balancing internal Conagra employees’ equity. Pay Range: $64,000-$95,000

Benefits

We care about your total well-being and will support you with the following, subject to your location and role:

• Health: Comprehensive healthcare plans, wellness incentive program, mental wellbeing support and fitness reimbursement
• Wealth: Great pay, bonus incentive opportunity, matching 401(k) and stock purchase plan
• Growth: Career development opportunities, employee resource groups, on-demand learning and tuition reimbursement
• Balance: Paid-time off, parental leave, flexible work-schedules (subject to your location and role) and volunteer opportunities