Logo
Maker’s Pride, LLC

R&D Food Scientist

Maker’s Pride, LLC, Jackson, Mississippi, United States

Save Job

Front Royal, 200 Baker Plaza, Front Royal, Virginia, United States of America

Overview The R&D Food Scientist– NBI (New Bakery & Innovation R&D Platform) within Maker’s Pride is a technical position within the greater R&D team that requires a self-motivated, technically experienced, customer focused candidate who will work comfortably cross functionally on the New Bakery & Innovation Business Platform (NBI) with Operations, Sales, Quality, Regulatory, Marketing, Supply Chain, Procurement, Finance, Project Management and Engineering to drive results within Maker’s Pride. The R&D Food Scientist enables business decisions to be made cross functionally while also providing significant technical expertise, leadership and execution in the formulation, process development and commercialization of new products, within Regulatory and Food Safety requirements, across multiple Maker’s Pride plant locations. This candidate requires creativity, innovative thinking, interpersonal effectiveness, effective project management skills, a depth of technical food processing knowledge and the ability to collaborate/mentor/lead with other professionals, within Maker’s Pride and outside with customers, both locally and domestically to achieve common goals.

Responsibilities

Project Management: Works on the new bakery projects in the New Bakery & Innovation R&D platform from concepts, ingredient sourcing, reformulating, cost management and product life cycle maintenance

Balances multiple assignments/tasks concurrently and can work independently or lead a team within R&D

Sets goals, specifications and manages full-scale production plant trials

Collaborates with cross-functional teams to design products meeting nutrition guidelines, claims, and cost targets across Maker’s Pride plants

Turns successful trials into production specifications, process instructions, yields and run rates

Designs, analyzes, documents and communicates results, and commercializes products

Engages with customers, prospects and colleagues to keep projects on track; builds technical relationships

Travels and collaborates with plant personnel on production process issues

Assists Core Bakery R&D to drive improvements in production processes for consistency, efficiency and waste reduction

Leadership: Leads New Bakery & Innovation projects ensuring products meet quality, cost, safety and market standards; mentors R&D associates

Identifies and evaluates food trends with Marketing Insights to support business vision

Understanding of Maker’s Pride processing lines and capabilities; collaborates across platform teams as needed

Works with suppliers and facilities to develop products

Product Development: Manages incoming projects in CFL meetings, drives profitable projects, leads bench, pilot plant and production trials

Manages new formulas for Private Label to be produced commercially across multiple plants

Leads co-manufacturing developments for key customers, including ingredients, process parameters, nutrition statements, sample validation and shipping

Translates market trends into innovative products and packages for fast-paced commercialization

Maintains knowledge of suppliers, trends and technologies; engages in problem solving and entrepreneurial growth

Cost and Process Optimization: Drives improvements to ensure consistency, efficiency and waste reduction; sources innovative ingredients to align with goals

Provides training and support to Operations on new recipes and processes

Product Testing & Quality Control: Conducts testing for quality, safety and regulatory compliance; leads sensory and consumer testing; evaluates shelf life and packaging suitability

Keeps informed on bakery trends, industry developments and customer needs; engages with marketing on brand positioning

Attends industry events and customer meetings to identify new opportunities

Regulatory & Compliance: Collaborates to ensure formulations comply with labeling standards and food safety regulations; manages claims and certifications; mentors in R&D project management

Works with Business Development, Supply Chain and Packaging to drive revenue results; communicates findings regularly with stakeholders

Qualifications

Key competencies: collaboration across R&D and functions, advanced knowledge of commercial bakery equipment, successful product commercialization experience, strong project management and leadership skills

Proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, SAP (or ERP), PLM (Genesis/Product Vision); familiarity with regulatory standards and labeling

Ability to lead cross-functional teams and mentor others

Education & Experience

BS/MS/PhD in Food Science, Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Agricultural Science or Culinary Arts with minimum 2+ years of experience commercializing products

2-5 years of bakery product development experience or similar platform with a track record of successful launches

Physical Requirements

Sitting at a workstation for extended periods; standing/walking; ability to lift up to 20 pounds

Office-based with time in test kitchen or production facilities

Approximately 10-20% travel domestically

Maker's Pride is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Front Royal, 200 Baker Plaza, Front Royal, Virginia, United States of America

#J-18808-Ljbffr