Food Chemist: R&D Innovator Flavor & Quality

Client Overview:

Our client operates within a dynamic, fast-paced, and highly innovative segment of the food industry. Their portfolio spans a wide range of beloved food products enjoyed by consumers across North America. They are committed to excellence in product development, quality, and consumer satisfaction, and they thrive on a culture of creativity and continuous improvement. They are currently looking to add a Food Chemist to their team.

Salary/Hourly Rate:$28/hr - $32/hr

Position Overview:

As a Food Chemist on the Food R&D team, you will support research and development activities across a broad program, including innovation, renovation, quality improvement, and margin enhancement. You will work as part of a cross-functional project team to deliver brand and business objectives in a collaborative, consumer-focused environment. The Food Chemist will be working on site 5 days/week.

Responsibilities of the Food Chemist:

• The Food Chemist will execute agreed R&D activities to deliver the brand's program, spanning innovation, renovation, quality improvement, and margin enhancement.
• Work as a member of a cross-functional project team to deliver projects on time and in full.
• Independently design products against product briefs and design/execute test protocols for various technical aspects of projects (e.g., prototype development and scale-up, shelf-life testing, analytical testing).
• Lead the process of specification and label creation from request to approved status; serve as the material expert and lead creation of new specifications for new ingredients.
• Actively participate in and/or represent R&D in Supply Chain and Marketing meetings.
• Assess the feasibility of new ideas and troubleshoot activities where formulation knowledge is essential.
• Support technical investigations through root cause analysis and problem-solving techniques for both existing and new products.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with R&D, Supply Chain, and Marketing teams, as well as customers and key stakeholders.

• 2 - 5 years of experience in the food industry, preferably in product development.
• Ability to independently execute tasks and projects of low-to-moderate complexity.
• Working knowledge of ingredients, formulation, process, and product design principles.
• Working knowledge of specification creation, approval, and costing.
• Ability to analyze and interpret data with guidance on final conclusions.
• Working knowledge of experimental design, root-cause analysis, and problem-solving techniques.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to construct trial/lab reports and presentations, including recommendations.
• Ability to present information to both technical and non-technical audiences.

• A deep passion for product design and creative product development.
• The Food Chemist needs experience or a comfort level working in a fast-paced, cross-functional, and multicultural environment.
• Ability to develop, plan, conduct, and coordinate prototype development initiatives across multiple projects and tasks.
• Good understanding of Supply Chain operations.
• Comfort with multitasking and managing competing priorities.
• Experience with culinary and product trends and consumer insights to inform product development.

• Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science, Food Technology, or a closely related discipline is required.
• Advanced degrees (M.S. or Ph.D.) in a relevant field are a plus but not required.
• Equivalent practical experience in the food industry may be considered in lieu of a formal degree for the Food Chemist.

• Atrium Care Package available, upon eligibility (including healthcare plans, discount programs, and paid time off).