Food Scientist II - R&D - Conway, AR

Overview

Food Scientist II - R&D based in Conway, Arkansas. Westrock Coffee is looking for a Food Scientist II to join the Extracts & Multiserve Bottle R&D Team in Conway, Arkansas.

At Westrock, Food Scientists lead product development projects from proof of concept through commercial validation and lifecycle management. This role will have specific daily focus on Coffee Extraction and Multiserve Bottle products across Retail and Food service, but is expected to have or gain broad knowledge on all, including but not limited to:
Ready to drink beverages including retort and cold-chain, coffee and tea extracts, roasted coffee, and iced tea blends. This work also requires interaction with multi-disciplinary groups to innovate, optimize and customize food ingredients, and consults directly with sales and customers to meet expectations.

• Formula Development from concept to commercialization
• Troubleshooting and commercialization of customer-provided formulas
• Beginning innovation and research for current and future product categories
• Technical support for operations, customer requests
• Direct customer interaction including communication, visits, and demos
• Senior:
  Primary tech
• Technical mentor for less experienced Team Members.

• Applies scientific principles in research, development, production technology, packaging, processing, and ingredient functionality to develop and commercialize new food products, and to improve existing products.
• Understands and interprets concepts and ideas accurately according to customer requirements and Company manufacturing capabilities, including design of new/improved formulations, testing schedules, prototype development, and scale up to commercialization
• Evaluates multiple technical options and provides best option solutions to the business.
• Coordinates trial productions with operations, runs testing protocols, prepares and sends samples to internal and external customers for evaluation.
• Designs and conducts shelf-life studies, including product and package performance under various conditions and makes recommendations for appropriate adjustment in product and/or package development.
• Develops and maintains accurate records related to the products such as formulas, production process, HACCP, product specification, nutritional data, shelf life, etc
• Provide technical support to customers seeking product information and advice as it pertains to product application/usage levels
• Provide technical support to Operations, Quality, Global Sourcing, and customers on new and existing products, new materials, or new applications of products
• Develops and conducts basic sensory testing for discrimination or descriptive analysis
• Travel up to 25% when required for customers, trials, and trade shows, and possibly international

6502

First

• Bachelor's Degree in Food Science or related field, Master Degree in Food Science or similar required
• At least 3-5 years in a coffee-specific development role, to include but not be limited to green blends, roasting, extraction methods and technologies, concentration technologies, and application of extracts and flavors in different beverage categories.
• At least 3-5 years performing product development and technical services in the food industry, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• CQI/SCA Q-Grader highly preferred
• Knowledge of thermal processing, including HTST, ESL, Aseptic, and/or heat penetration studies and temperature distributions.
• Hands on experience running laboratory and pilot plant equipment.
• Strong understanding of food science principles, analytical skills, and problem solving, producing high quality lab work that is reliable and accurate
• Knowledge of ingredient functionality
• Adept sensory skills and knowledge of sensory evaluation techniques
• Experience with nutritional data generation and regulatory requirements
• Knowledge of Food Safety Principles and systems including HACCP and Low Acid Canned Foods
• Combination of strong analytical skills and creative thinking
• Strong record-keeping skills, general project management, and attention to detail
• A high degree of discretion is required.
• Self-motivated, self-starter

Equal Opportunity Employer / Vets / Disabled