Senior Principal Scientist, R&D – Margin Enhancement Strategy

• Serve as a recognized technical authority and thought leader in value engineering across the North American region
• Build and maintain a multi-year pipeline of productivity opportunities across categories, platforms, and business units
• Shape long-term North American productivity strategy
• Identify breakthrough ingredient and formulation technologies for cost savings while preserving or improving consumer outcomes
• Assess emerging technologies, supplier capabilities, ingredient systems, and manufacturing innovations
• Develop external networks across suppliers, universities, startups, and industry organizations
• Partner with Platform R&D teams to translate technical concepts into scalable productivity initiatives and innovation roadmaps
• Provide technical leadership during ideation, feasibility assessments, and early-stage development
• Lead cross-functional workshops on pipeline generation, prioritization, and technical risk evaluation
• Collaborate with Procurement, Operations, Quality, Regulatory, Packaging, and Commercialization teams
• Establish technical frameworks, best practices, and methodologies for value engineering
• Influence senior leadership through data-driven recommendations, competitive insights, technical evaluations, and productivity strategies
• Monitor industry trends, emerging technologies, academic research, and supplier innovations
• Support productivity initiatives as a technical advisor on formulation and scale-up challenges
• Represent Kraft Heinz externally with suppliers, industry organizations, universities, and innovation partners

• Master's degree or PhD in Food Science, Food Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Biological Engineering, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Microbiology, or a related field is strongly preferred
• 7+ years of relevant experience with a Master's degree, 6+ years with a PhD, or 8+ years with a Bachelor's degree
• Deep knowledge of ingredient functionality, formulation design, food processing technologies, and cost optimization strategies
• Demonstrated success identifying and advancing high-impact value engineering opportunities with measurable business results
• Ability to evaluate technical opportunities through scientific merit and business value
• Ability to develop technical strategies and influence organizational priorities across multiple business units
• Strong understanding of manufacturing, scale-up, commercialization, and supply chain considerations
• Experience evaluating emerging technologies, supplier innovations, and external trends
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts and recommendations to senior leadership
• Exceptional problem-solving, systems-thinking, and strategic planning capabilities
• Ability to influence without authority and build alignment across diverse stakeholder groups
• Experience working across large global matrixed organizations preferred
• Ability to travel up to 15% of the time

Demonstrates expertise in value engineering, ingredient functionality, and formulation design, with a strong ability to influence organizational strategies and drive productivity initiatives across multiple business units. Proven track record in evaluating emerging technologies and translating technical concepts into actionable business outcomes.

• Value Engineering Expertise
• Ingredient Functionality Knowledge
• Formulation Design Skills
• Technical Leadership Experience
• Strategic Planning Abilities

• Food Science
• Food Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Biological Engineering
• Formulation Technologies
• Cost Optimization Strategies
• Manufacturing Scale-Up
• Technical Strategy Development
• Emerging Technology Evaluation
• Supply Chain Considerations

• Exceptional Problem-Solving
• Systems-Thinking
• Influencing Without Authority
• Communication Skills
• Collaboration Across Stakeholders

• Master's Degree
• PhD

• Productivity Strategy
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Technical Frameworks
• Innovation Roadmaps
• Supplier Innovations
• Academic Research
• Industry Trends
• Commercialization
• Technical Risk Evaluation
• Data-Driven Recommendations