Project Leader R&D; Principal Food Scientist, Pet

Position: Project Leader R&D (Principal Food Scientist, Pet)
Leads identification, recommendation and qualification of process/formulation development capabilities  needed to meet project success criteria and deliver industry-leading innovation. Connects and integrates  internal and external process/formulation capabilities to develop solutions, build product platforms, optimize existing processes/formulations and/or create new capabilities.

Essential Position Responsibilities - This is a Salary Exempt position. Product/Process Champion. Fits new customers into our existing array of products or develops line extensions or process/product improvements for existing customers. Meets with customers, independent  of supervisor, and with sales account manager to define scope of new projects. Assists in the evaluation  of target brand evaluation and monitoring efforts. Demonstrates leadership qualities with respect to  process/product design capabilities with strong communication skills.

Utilizes pilot scale equipment for high risk projects in order to minimize company liability. Works closely with customer or supplier technical  representatives and may involve test coordination based on equipment availability. Maintains competence as a scientist by attending technical meetings to identify new opportunities with respect to processes/products.  Product/Process Development. Competent in the full length of the product development cycle and  larger scale projects, including conceptual development, formulation, implementation, process validation and continuous management and improvement.

Works closely with the technical staff of customers or suppliers, often mentoring junior and senior scientists. Develops, bench tests, scales-up, and commercializes new processes/products in accordance with guidelines established in the project brief; factors include process/product attributes as well as development costs, finished product costs, and timing. Demonstrates process/product and project ownership to ensure that all parameters are optimized.  Schedules and supports plant tests throughout the commissioning phase, with the ability to develop contingency plans as needed.

Reviews process characteristics and/or product formulations across products and plants and identify opportunities to simplify the system and/or capitalize on cost savings opportunities. Makes suggestions to the supervisor and, if applicable, senior operations management regarding potential improvements. Reviews patents to ensure no infringement occurs.  Equipment Validation (relevant if/when area of focus is process-related). Participates in the  calibration of new equipment with respect to metering for processing rate optimization purposes.

Screens alternate suppliers of manufacturing and product evaluation equipment, summarizes strengths and weaknesses of each option and makes recommendations, accordingly. Qualifies new equipment by conducting Equipment Verification studies which include Installation Qualification (IQ), Operational Qualification (OQ) and long-term Performance Qualification (PQ) Protocols. Participates in online equipment validation, allowing early detection of process errors and product quality issues. Conducts pilot plant tests internally or at supplier facilities in order to verify new process/formulation capabilities.  

Nutritional, Regulatory and Finished Product Compliance (relevant if/when area of focus is product-related). Utilizes existing product formulation approach to assure finished product nutritional adequacy (label and nutrition claim), applying statistical data from key raw materials. Develops a label deck from a master formula which considers all potential processing locations. Submits products for analytical or animal testing as required by supervisor and summarizes results.

Participates as a member of project teams that evaluate product non-conformance incidence with processes/products under their responsibility. Collects and analyzes information as required to analyze raw material/process interactions.  Process, Operations and Supply Chain Support. Leads supply chain initiatives including formula transfer among plants, evaluation of new suppliers of raw materials, increased or decreased use of existing raw materials and Project Manager, R&D evaluation of processing parameters.

Assists in process/product evaluation testing as required by supervisor. Develops knowledge of critical process points in conjunction with the process engineering group. Summarizes results of previous tests and…