Job Title : R&D Research Assistant
Department : Research & Development
Reports To : Director of Research & Development
Location : Dayton, OH
Job Summary
The R&D Research Assistant supports key initiatives within the BrightPet Nutrition Group across three primary areas : new product research, product formulation, and technical support. This role plays a crucial part in product innovation, ingredient evaluation, and cross-functional support for both branded and co-manufacturing product lines.
Essential Functions
- Assist the department manager in coordinating and managing R&D projects.
- Support the branded team in new formula development.
- Conduct packaging and labeling reviews for branded and co-manufactured products.
- Oversee daily operations of the R&D kitchen and ensure readiness for tabletop test runs.
- Collect raw ingredient and finished product samples for nutritional analysis as needed.
- Develop and validate internal ingredient requirements and verify nutritional standards.
- Develop and validate internal standards and specifications for finished products.
- Partner with the production team to build and improve critical control systems for formula fulfillment.
- Conduct process capability research with production teams to determine operational limits and improvement opportunities.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
B.S. in Animal Science or related field.Companion Animal Nutrition Certificate required.Experience in pet food nutrition required.Familiarity with formulation software.Strong knowledge of pet food ingredients.Prior experience in technical services preferred.Excellent verbal and written communication skills.Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Outlook.