Scientist

About Tropicana Brands Group Tropicana Brands Group represents an exciting fusion of some of the world's most beloved and up-and-coming brands in the juice category, including Tropicana, Naked, KeVita, Izze, Dole, Copella and Punica. Tropicana Brands Group was established in 2022 as a joint venture between PAI Partners and PepsiCo. Our new company blends the best of two worlds: one steeped in industry-leading expertise and the heritage of prestige juice brands, and another rooted in a true entrepreneurial, agile mindset. With a global footprint of more than 2,000 associates that spans North America and Europe, we are proud of our industry-leading capabilities in areas that include innovation, R&D, manufacturing, distribution, sales, marketing and nutrition expertise. The company is focused on the vision to quench the world's thirst for more delight and nourishment, while continuing to build upon the many important diversity, sustainability, local community and philanthropic activities that our people and brands have historically supported. Job Description: Tropicana Brands Group R&D is looking for a highly qualified Scientist to support productivity projects, quality improvement initiatives, systems and process development, and select consumer-driven innovation. The ideal candidate will be a curious, hands-on, detail-oriented product developer with strong math and technical calculation skills, strong Excel and PowerPoint capability, and effective communication and collaboration skills in a fast-paced environment. As part of an entrepreneurial culture, the ideal candidate will bring an ownership mindset, a consumer-first approach, a process-minded way of working, and a willingness to learn and grow within a nimble R&D organization. Comfort working through ambiguity, adapting quickly, managing details accurately, and applying sound technical judgment is important. Successful candidates enjoy hands-on beverage product development, structured documentation, and cross-functional collaboration while contributing to well-established and loved brands within a growing beverage company. The position is based in Chicago, IL. Responsibilities include: Execute productivity initiatives, including formulation, process, ingredient, and cost optimization opportunitiesSupport execution of assigned quality improvement projects by applying scientific methods, data analysis, and technical problem-solving to product and process challengesSupport End-to-End Quality Program activities, including documentation, cross-functional follow-up, and execution of assigned R&D actionsSupport the development, improvement, and maintenance of standardized R&D processes, procedures, templates, and ways of working to improve consistency, clarity, and execution across the organization. Plan, execute, document, and interpret laboratory, pilot plant, and manufacturing-scale experiments to develop technical recommendations for product, process, quality, and productivity opportunitiesSupport select consumer-driven innovation and renovation projects, including beverage formulation, ingredient selection, sensory evaluation, shelf-life support, and scale-up from laboratory through commercial manufacturingPerform and verify R&D calculations, including formulation math, ingredient usage, percent solids, dilution, yield, cost, and related beverage development calculationsCreate clear, accurate technical documentation for assigned projects, including experiment summaries, formulation records, specifications, trial reports, technical recommendations, and project updates. Support plant trials and commercialization activities, including process validation, startup support, and troubleshooting during manufacturing implementationLeverage external and internal experts for key analytical, sensory and consumer researchPerform economic evaluations on ingredients, ingredient suppliers, and product formulations to drive profitabilityParticipate as an active member of cross-functional project teams, partnering with Marketing, Purchasing, Engineering, Operations, Quality, and other groupsDevelop and maintain complete product attribute specifications for ingredients and finished productsUse innovative and critical thinking skills to help solve technical and organizational challengesWork through ambiguous technical problems with guidance to identify options, next steps, and tradeoffsUse strong teamwork, collaboration, communication, and project coordination skills to support cross-functional projects on time and on budget QUALIFICATIONS: S. in Food Science & Technology or related scientific field; advanced degree preferred2+ years of experience in product development, beverage experience a plusProficiency in Excel for data analysis, calculations, tracking, and documentation; PowerPoint experience for summarizing technical findings, recommendations, and project updates. Ability to learn new software as neededAbility to manage multiple project tasks and priorities, with ability to adapt quickly to changing priorities and unexpected requestsAbility and interest to work in laboratory, pilot plant and manufacturing scale environmentsAbility to work with lab and analytical equipment (pH meter, Brix meter, centrifuge, analytical balance, etc.)Comfort developing, improving, and following standardized ways of working across R&D processes, documentation, systems, and data managementHighly organized with strong attention to detail and strong math calculation skills, including formulation calculations, percent solids, dilution, yield, cost, and ingredient usage calculationsDemonstrated ability to build effective working relationships with cross-functional business partners, including Marketing, Supply Chain, Operations, Quality, and SalesAbility to work effectively, escalate risks appropriately, and adapt in a fast-paced environment with ambiguity and changeProject coordination skills, including timelines, milestones, documentation, and cross-functional collaborationAbility to translate business objectives into clear technical tasks and project deliverablesMust be open to 15-25% domestic travel