Food Scientist, R&D

The Wenger Group is a leading Northeast family-owned organization headquartered in Pennsylvania, specializing in animal nutrition, specialty protein production, on-farm services, and agricultural procurement. With over 850 team members, we are a stable, values-driven company in the essential agriculture sector.

About the role

Support the improvement, development, and commercialization of fresh pork and value-added meat products for Leidy's Premium Meats. Collaborate with cross-functional teams including FSQA, Operations, Marketing, Commercialization, Sales, Supply Chain, and Technical Services to drive innovation, process improvements, and customer satisfaction. This role is primarily based onsite in Souderton and/or Harleysville and requires travel to production facilities up to 30% of the time.

Responsibilities

• Develop and improve fresh meat and value-added meat products, including muscle cuts, ground products, marinated meats, ham, bacon, deli meats, and other specialty products.
• Evaluate carcass and meat quality to support product consistency and performance.
• Execute new product development projects from concept through commercialization.
• Plan and conduct plant trials, scale-up activities, and product launches.
• Support cost savings initiatives while maintaining product quality and performance.
• Conduct formulation, packaging, shelf-life studies, and product evaluations.
• Design experiments, analyze data, prepare technical reports, and provide recommendations.
• Identify risks and provide technical support to Operations, Sales, customers, and cross-functional teams.
• Support the development and execution of a strong innovation pipeline and product portfolio.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to ensure successful project execution.
• Travel up to 30% to manufacturing facilities and customer locations.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Food Science, Meat Science, Poultry Science, Food Engineering, Food Safety, or a related field required.
• Experience in manufacturing, Research & Development, Food Safety, Quality Assurance, and/or related food industry functions.
• Knowledge of meat processing, product development, and commercialization processes.
• Experience with experimental design, data analysis, and technical reporting.
• Strategic thinker with strong problem-solving and organizational skills.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to present findings and recommendations to diverse audiences.
• Self-motivated with the ability to manage multiple projects and navigate uncertainty.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within cross-functional teams.

Physical & Environmental Requirements

• Ability to work in cold environments, including coolers and freezers.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. regularly.
• Ability to safely work around refrigerants, oils, industrial equipment, and elevated noise levels.
• Required use of personal protective equipment (PPE) when in production areas.

Benefits

For full-time employees:

• Paid Time Off
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Parental Leave
• Employee Assistance Program
• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Medical Flexible Spending Account
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
• Life Insurance / Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
• Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
• Pet Insurance
• Yearly bonus potential based on company goals

Additional perks and resources:

• Promotional opportunities
• Rewards and recognition programs
• Robust onboarding and training program
• Employee Discount Programs (Perks at Work)
• Employee referral program
• Encouraging and collaborative culture