The Farmer's Dog
Director Of Food Science
The Farmer's Dog was born from a mission to change the landscape of pet health, providing dogs and their humans with honest, smart, and simple care. We're starting by radically improving the $90 billion pet food industry, replacing bags of highly-processed pellets with a personalized subscription service that sends complete and balanced, freshly-made dog food directly to customers' doors. Our ultimate goal is to create innovative, delightful and personalized experiences across all aspects of pet care, and we believe our direct-to-consumer business model, holistic approach to growth, and dynamic culture uniquely position us to shepherd this backwards industry into the future. To date, The Farmer's Dog has delivered over 1 billion meals nationwide and raised over $150M in funding to help us build a company as healthy as the dogs who are eating those meals. Join us as we continue to develop ways of bringing peace of mind to customers, health to their companions, and much-needed change to the way people feed and care for their pets. What We Stand For And Where You'll Come In
We're looking for a strategic and hands-on Director of Food Science to lead the scientific foundation of our fresh pet food portfolio. This role is responsible for ensuring our recipes are grounded in the latest nutritional science, optimized for digestibility and palatability, and developed with safety, quality, and regulatory compliance at the forefront. You'll lead a team of food scientists and partner cross-functionally with product development, quality, operations, and veterinary professionals to drive innovation, renovation, and continuous improvement. This role will also require travel of up to 40%. One Team: We don't think of ourselves as "Acquisition Marketers", "Engineers", "Data Analysts", or "Product Managers". Beyond denoting skill sets and areas of expertise, we don't think departments matter. We'd rather align ourselves to the goals we're working to achieve and make sure we have necessary subject matter expertise to drive meaningful impact. We strive to orient ourselves around customer problems TOGETHER
getting the right people, with the right context, in the right rooms/Zooms to solve problems holistically. We are skeptical about everything and precious about nothing: Ideas can and should come from anywhere, and we aren't tied to our own. We proactively source input. We talk to our customers and leads regularly and are quick to change course if we know there's a better or more impactful way to solve problems. We consider the customer journey in all of our decisions: We know that no interaction exists in a silo and therefore understand how important every single one is. We ensure our strategy sets prospective and new customers up for success and drives long-term retention. We answer questions and address problems early and proactively. We understand the value of different channels, initiatives, and messages and know how to articulate impact and advocate for prioritization holistically. We Execute For Impact: We don't subscribe to "best practices" or "industry KPIs". We're uninterested in how we compare to "benchmarks"; instead we orient ourselves around being the best we can possibly be. Similarly, we don't subscribe to rigid or classical expectations of roles
i.e. acquisition is hyper-focused on improving customer retention and experience. We Are Focused and Work Without Assumption: We are not beholden to ideas. We have goals and believe everything beyond that is a series of hypotheses to validate. To that end, we seek to work in sequence and not in parallel. We constantly ask ourselves, "what's the most important hypothesis I should be working on right now? How do I confirm or reject that hypothesis as fast as possible?". We rarely have timelines/deadlines and are constantly taking in new information and adjusting our priorities accordingly. We don't expect to be perfect the first time. How You'll Make An Impact
Lead Food Science Strategy Define and drive the scientific agenda to ensure all products meet internal standards for safety, nutrition, and product integrity. Apply food chemistry, ingredient functionality, and process knowledge to optimize product formulations and processes. Guide the selection and use of functional ingredients, pre- and post-processing treatments, and emerging technologies relevant to human grade fresh pet food. Ingredient Research & Specification Development Oversee the evaluation and qualification of new ingredients and raw materials, focusing on functionality, nutrient stability, and safety. Collaborate with procurement and quality to set and maintain ingredient and product specifications. Recipe & Process Optimization Partner with product development, culinary, and process engineering teams to optimize product texture, consistency, and nutrient retention. Lead investigations into product performance using scientific methods and analytical tools Provide technical guidance for scaling and commercializing products across manufacturing partners. Ensure all formulations and ingredients comply with AAFCO, FDA, and international pet food regulations. Leadership & Team Development Lead and mentor a high-performing team of food scientists and technologists. Build internal capabilities in analytical testing, product characterization, and technical problem solving. Foster a culture of scientific excellence, curiosity, and data-driven decision making. We're Excited About You Because
PhD or MS in Food Science, Animal Nutrition, Meat Science, or related field. 10+ years of experience in pet food or human food product development, with at least 3 years in a leadership role. Strong understanding of food chemistry, ingredient functionality, product formulation, and process engineering. Experience with fresh, minimally processed or refrigerated food systems preferred. Proven track record of solving complex product performance challenges using scientific methods. Deep knowledge of pet food regulations and nutritional standards. Flexibility to commit to up to 40% travel, dependent on the annual event calendar and plant trials. You are able to thrive in a fast-paced and ambiguous environment, naturally curious and proactive self-starter, constantly on the lookout for new opportunities and solutions. You're an owner, have excellent problem-solving skills and can prioritize tasks effectively, with a strong attention to detail. You are detail-oriented and proactive, you thrive as a self-starter and excel in managing multiple projects simultaneously. You're a skilled communicator and have the ability to absorb and distill complexity into simple terms to drive decision making. You love dogs. Office Guidelines
We are an in-office culture, made of in-office people who thrive on the collaboration and magnetism of working in a shared space. We are seeking individuals who excel in this type of environment, where being present fosters deeper connections and engagement. Our Belonging Philosophy:
At TFD, we believe Belonging is a shared commitment to creating a workplace where every person feels respected, valued, and empowered to be themselves. When people feel a true sense of belonging, they do their best work, take smart risks, and bring forward diverse perspectives
leading to stronger decisions and deeper relationships. We anchor this belief in a simple phrase: "Everyone's welcome at the dog park." No matter your background, identity, or role, there's space for you here. There's no one way to show up at the dog park just shared space, mutual respect, and the freedom to be yourself. Being included is just the beginning, it's about contributing your voice, growing through challenges, and building trust through shared goals. This philosophy guides how we lead, how we hire, how we communicate, and how we grow. We continuously evaluate to ensure we are creating a consistent experience that cultivates belonging for all employees, from hiring and performance reviews to talent development. We also believe Belonging happens in everyday moments of connection; lunch with a new teammate, a shared laugh, or a quick story about your weekend. Our structure includes biannual employee surveys, manager training, TFD camps, and support from Humans to ensure we're listening and learning from our Team. Together, these efforts reflect what Belonging means at TFD: a culture where everyone can thrive. A Few Of Our Best Benefits
Dog-friendly office in Greenwich Village Market-competitive compensation and equity packages Comprehensive Healthcare, Dental, and Vision Company supported mental health benefits 12 week paid parental leave Competitive 401k plan with company match Flexible PTO Discounted fresh food for your pup Your
The Farmer's Dog was born from a mission to change the landscape of pet health, providing dogs and their humans with honest, smart, and simple care. We're starting by radically improving the $90 billion pet food industry, replacing bags of highly-processed pellets with a personalized subscription service that sends complete and balanced, freshly-made dog food directly to customers' doors. Our ultimate goal is to create innovative, delightful and personalized experiences across all aspects of pet care, and we believe our direct-to-consumer business model, holistic approach to growth, and dynamic culture uniquely position us to shepherd this backwards industry into the future. To date, The Farmer's Dog has delivered over 1 billion meals nationwide and raised over $150M in funding to help us build a company as healthy as the dogs who are eating those meals. Join us as we continue to develop ways of bringing peace of mind to customers, health to their companions, and much-needed change to the way people feed and care for their pets. What We Stand For And Where You'll Come In
We're looking for a strategic and hands-on Director of Food Science to lead the scientific foundation of our fresh pet food portfolio. This role is responsible for ensuring our recipes are grounded in the latest nutritional science, optimized for digestibility and palatability, and developed with safety, quality, and regulatory compliance at the forefront. You'll lead a team of food scientists and partner cross-functionally with product development, quality, operations, and veterinary professionals to drive innovation, renovation, and continuous improvement. This role will also require travel of up to 40%. One Team: We don't think of ourselves as "Acquisition Marketers", "Engineers", "Data Analysts", or "Product Managers". Beyond denoting skill sets and areas of expertise, we don't think departments matter. We'd rather align ourselves to the goals we're working to achieve and make sure we have necessary subject matter expertise to drive meaningful impact. We strive to orient ourselves around customer problems TOGETHER
getting the right people, with the right context, in the right rooms/Zooms to solve problems holistically. We are skeptical about everything and precious about nothing: Ideas can and should come from anywhere, and we aren't tied to our own. We proactively source input. We talk to our customers and leads regularly and are quick to change course if we know there's a better or more impactful way to solve problems. We consider the customer journey in all of our decisions: We know that no interaction exists in a silo and therefore understand how important every single one is. We ensure our strategy sets prospective and new customers up for success and drives long-term retention. We answer questions and address problems early and proactively. We understand the value of different channels, initiatives, and messages and know how to articulate impact and advocate for prioritization holistically. We Execute For Impact: We don't subscribe to "best practices" or "industry KPIs". We're uninterested in how we compare to "benchmarks"; instead we orient ourselves around being the best we can possibly be. Similarly, we don't subscribe to rigid or classical expectations of roles
i.e. acquisition is hyper-focused on improving customer retention and experience. We Are Focused and Work Without Assumption: We are not beholden to ideas. We have goals and believe everything beyond that is a series of hypotheses to validate. To that end, we seek to work in sequence and not in parallel. We constantly ask ourselves, "what's the most important hypothesis I should be working on right now? How do I confirm or reject that hypothesis as fast as possible?". We rarely have timelines/deadlines and are constantly taking in new information and adjusting our priorities accordingly. We don't expect to be perfect the first time. How You'll Make An Impact
Lead Food Science Strategy Define and drive the scientific agenda to ensure all products meet internal standards for safety, nutrition, and product integrity. Apply food chemistry, ingredient functionality, and process knowledge to optimize product formulations and processes. Guide the selection and use of functional ingredients, pre- and post-processing treatments, and emerging technologies relevant to human grade fresh pet food. Ingredient Research & Specification Development Oversee the evaluation and qualification of new ingredients and raw materials, focusing on functionality, nutrient stability, and safety. Collaborate with procurement and quality to set and maintain ingredient and product specifications. Recipe & Process Optimization Partner with product development, culinary, and process engineering teams to optimize product texture, consistency, and nutrient retention. Lead investigations into product performance using scientific methods and analytical tools Provide technical guidance for scaling and commercializing products across manufacturing partners. Ensure all formulations and ingredients comply with AAFCO, FDA, and international pet food regulations. Leadership & Team Development Lead and mentor a high-performing team of food scientists and technologists. Build internal capabilities in analytical testing, product characterization, and technical problem solving. Foster a culture of scientific excellence, curiosity, and data-driven decision making. We're Excited About You Because
PhD or MS in Food Science, Animal Nutrition, Meat Science, or related field. 10+ years of experience in pet food or human food product development, with at least 3 years in a leadership role. Strong understanding of food chemistry, ingredient functionality, product formulation, and process engineering. Experience with fresh, minimally processed or refrigerated food systems preferred. Proven track record of solving complex product performance challenges using scientific methods. Deep knowledge of pet food regulations and nutritional standards. Flexibility to commit to up to 40% travel, dependent on the annual event calendar and plant trials. You are able to thrive in a fast-paced and ambiguous environment, naturally curious and proactive self-starter, constantly on the lookout for new opportunities and solutions. You're an owner, have excellent problem-solving skills and can prioritize tasks effectively, with a strong attention to detail. You are detail-oriented and proactive, you thrive as a self-starter and excel in managing multiple projects simultaneously. You're a skilled communicator and have the ability to absorb and distill complexity into simple terms to drive decision making. You love dogs. Office Guidelines
We are an in-office culture, made of in-office people who thrive on the collaboration and magnetism of working in a shared space. We are seeking individuals who excel in this type of environment, where being present fosters deeper connections and engagement. Our Belonging Philosophy:
At TFD, we believe Belonging is a shared commitment to creating a workplace where every person feels respected, valued, and empowered to be themselves. When people feel a true sense of belonging, they do their best work, take smart risks, and bring forward diverse perspectives
leading to stronger decisions and deeper relationships. We anchor this belief in a simple phrase: "Everyone's welcome at the dog park." No matter your background, identity, or role, there's space for you here. There's no one way to show up at the dog park just shared space, mutual respect, and the freedom to be yourself. Being included is just the beginning, it's about contributing your voice, growing through challenges, and building trust through shared goals. This philosophy guides how we lead, how we hire, how we communicate, and how we grow. We continuously evaluate to ensure we are creating a consistent experience that cultivates belonging for all employees, from hiring and performance reviews to talent development. We also believe Belonging happens in everyday moments of connection; lunch with a new teammate, a shared laugh, or a quick story about your weekend. Our structure includes biannual employee surveys, manager training, TFD camps, and support from Humans to ensure we're listening and learning from our Team. Together, these efforts reflect what Belonging means at TFD: a culture where everyone can thrive. A Few Of Our Best Benefits
Dog-friendly office in Greenwich Village Market-competitive compensation and equity packages Comprehensive Healthcare, Dental, and Vision Company supported mental health benefits 12 week paid parental leave Competitive 401k plan with company match Flexible PTO Discounted fresh food for your pup Your