Staff Scientist R&D Salty Pretzels

Staff Scientist R&D Salty Pretzels

Location:

Hershey, PA

Reporting to the Sr. Manager, Salty R&D, and working at our Technical Center in Hershey, PA, the Staff Scientist position provides leadership of medium and high complexity product development projects in the Hershey Salty Snacks portfolio. The ability to operate with a high level of autonomy across all programs and projects is expected. The successful candidate is a proven problem solver and critical thinker, which results in problem resolution.

They will consistently demonstrate, apply, document, and disseminate technical knowledge to different audiences at different levels of the organization. The candidate leverages internal and external networks as appropriate to deliver solutions.

• Product development leadership from concept to commercialization, partnering with Marketing and suppliers to bring concepts to life on communicated timelines.
• Lead development of next generation novel baked and salty snack items.
• Actively explore novel technologies and ingredients through interactions with vendors, suppliers, and attendance of trade shows.
• Support product and research data enrichment and accuracy across S4 and other HSY platforms.
• Provide technical expertise in execution of innovation, renovation and maintenance opportunities across the Dot's and filled pretzel platforms.
• Identify, design, conduct, and document research on salty snack formulation and baking.
• Analyze data to provide actionable conclusions and present findings to stakeholders.
• Mentoring junior scientists within Salty R&D and providing technical guidance to Manufacturing.
• Interfacing with suppliers and industry professionals.

• R&D Team Members
• Manufacturing and Engineering
• QRC
• Project Management
• Commercial and Innovation Marketing

This role will require up to 25-30% domestic travel.

• Salty R&D project leadership
• Mentoring junior R&D team members, production
• Data and documentation enrichment and validation
• Personal and Technical development

• Proven track record of applying scientific principals and internal processes to successfully launch new products to the market and/or product improvements on existing products (pretzel experience a plus).
• Ability to collaborate across departments and leverage external consultants and vendors to deliver on project timelines.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities and fluid timelines.
• Leadership skills/behaviors: business acumen, conflict management, and excellent organizational, communication and interpersonal skills.
• Competency with typical baked snacks (pretzels a plus) analytical techniques, sensory and customer testing methods, and scale-up considerations.
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and ability to learn new platforms as needed including AI tool exposure.
• Record of successfully mentoring junior scientists and provide technical guidance to cross‑functional partners.
• Ability to occasionally work outside of typical work hours (nights/weekends) to support project work.

• BS 9+years of experience, MS and 7+years of experience, or PhD 5+years of experience in Food Science, Chemical Engineering, Food Engineering, or related with 10+ years of experience.
• Experience with baked snacks formulation and processing is required.

The Hershey Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The policy of The Hershey Company is to extend opportunities to qualified applicants and employees on an equal basis regardless of an individual’s race, color, gender, age, national origin, religion, citizenship status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other categories protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.

The Hershey Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Minority/Female/Disabled/Protected Veterans.