Food Scientist

The Opportunity

In this position, you will partner with the team in product development activities, encompassing initial concept creation, formulation, sensory evaluation, and scaling up to successful commercialization. You will be responsible for the full product development process from R&D perspective, guiding innovative concepts through to successful commercialization while ensuring top-tier quality and functionality. Product development formats include but are not limited to powders, ready-to-eat, ready-to-drink, supplements in the food and beverage space. Note: This is a lab position where all food allergens (milk, soy, nuts, peanuts, wheat, egg, etc…) are present. This person will be involved in tasting a variety product types and subsequently exposed to them.

This permanent position will report to the Sr. R&D Manager (Powders).

• This is a lab based role, and you will be expected to spend most od your time working in the lab and plant.
• Innovate and create prototypes by experimenting with diverse formulations and flavor profiles. Transform initial concepts into products that excel in taste, functionality, and quality
• Reformulate existing products to maintain compliance and meet evolving customer expectations while ensuring exceptional quality and adherence to global regulatory standards.
• Organizes sensory panels and conducts rigorous product testing to ensure we deliver a great tasting product meeting Sensory Action Standard.
• Assess and validate ingredient options and vendors to ensure they meet our quality and regulatory standards. Build strong relationships with key suppliers to secure raw materials for our products.
• Calculate preliminary product costs, considering every aspect from ingredient sourcing to manufacturing.
• Develop nutritional and supplement facts panels, ensuring compliance with all relevant regulations and standards.
• Oversee pilot and scale-up manufacturing runs. Manage the transition from lab-scale experiments to full-scale production, resolving any issues promptly to guarantee consistent, high-quality outcomes.
• Uphold and enforce rigorous safety procedures and protocols throughout the development process. Set the standard for safety and compliance, ensuring a secure and efficient working environment for the team.
• Direct and execute comprehensive analytical testing of raw materials and factory trials.
• Validate that all formulations meet performance and stability criteria, ensuring the highest product quality.
• Documentation
• Accurately document all aspects of the formulation process, including variables tested, results obtained, and product stability. Enter detailed information into lab notebooks and the Formula Management System to maintain a comprehensive record of product development activities.
• Produces formula cost information; works with purchasing, finance, and sales teams to help establish final product pricing; initiates new item documents and set-up for all product introductions.
• Provide advice on and review raw material specifications to ensure they meet required standards and specifications.
• Provides leadership within a team environment, encouraging collaboration, innovation, and effective communication among team members.
• Actively contribute to innovation, troubleshooting, and brainstorming sessions within the team. Bring forward new ideas and solutions to enhance product development and processes.
• Identify and overcome barriers to successful innovation by developing relationships with key departments and customers.
• Gain an understanding of customer needs, business requirements, and overall business strategy to ensure alignment and successful project outcomes.
• Project management: Ability to efficiently manage multiple projects from ideation through commercialization ensuring timely and successful outcomes.
• Communication: Possess strong verbal and written skills with the ability to clearly communicate complex technical information to team and key stakeholders.
• Customer centric: Anticipate and understand customer needs, by proactively identifying and addressing potential challenges. Ensure clear communication and alignment across teams and internal stakeholders.
• Leadership and Development: Opportunity to mentor and/or mentor associate food scientists.
• Understands and follows daily lab and production processes and GMP lab factory guidelines.

The Skills you will bring to the team

• Bachelor’s of Science in Food Science or related field required.
• Masters degree or certification is a plus.
• 3+ years of relevant experience working in food, beverage, or dietary supplement industry.
• Flavor Systems: Deep knowledge of flavor systems is essential with the ability to troubleshoot and resolve flavor challenges quickly.
• Lab and production processes: Thorough understanding of daily lab and production processes. Expertise in raw material stability is required.
• Proficient in Microsoft Suite. SAP experience is preferred.

Where and how you will work

The opportunity will be based in Downers Grove, IL.

Compensation

Compensation for roles at Glanbia varies depending on a wide range of factors including but not limited to the specific office location, role, skill set and level of experience. Glanbia provides a reasonable range of compensation for roles that may be hired in IL. This range may not be applicable to other locations. Factors that could be used to determine your actual salary may include your specific skills, years of experience and comparison to current employees already in this role. The typical candidate is hired below midpoint of the range. The annual salary for IL based employees for this role is $70K-95K with an annual bonus.

What we would like to offer you!

The opportunity to develop your career on a global stage, continuous learning through an on-demand learning platform, and a competitive compensation package including staff discounts, generous family leave policy, health & dental plan, competitive salary, 401K.