Scientist, Food Production, Research Scientist

A part of Colgate-Palmolive since 1976, Hill's Pet Nutrition offers the highest-quality pet nutrition available through product lines Prescription Diet® and Science Diet®. Veterinarians worldwide recommend and feed their own pets Hill's products more than any other brand of pet food.

Available in approximately 80 countries around the world, our extensive line of products includes more than 60 Prescription Diet brand pet foods and more than 50 Science Diet brand pet foods.

We believe all animals should be loved and cared for during their lifetimes. That is why we are proud our pet foods can make a difference in your pet's life.

A career at Hill’s Pet Nutrition or Colgate-Palmolive is an excellent opportunity if you seek a global experience, constant challenge, and development opportunities in an environment that respects work/life effectiveness.

Travel Required?:
Travel - up to 10% of time

Posting

Start Date:

7/23/26

Hybrid

Relocation Assistance Offered Within Country

Job Number#174960 - Topeka, Kansas, United States

Colgate-Palmolive Company is a global consumer products company operating in over 200 countries specializing in Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care, Skin Care, and Pet Nutrition. Our products are trusted in more households than any other brand in the world, making us a household name!

Join Colgate-Palmolive, a caring, innovative growth company reimagining a healthier future for people, their pets, and our planet. Guided by our core values—Caring, Inclusive, and Courageous—we foster a culture that inspires our people to achieve common goals. Together, let's build a brighter, healthier future for all.

Our Ingredient Technology team helps drive innovation across our portfolio and is dedicated to enhancing the bond between people and their pets. This team works to discover and implement ingredients that deliver cutting‑edge technologies in our premium wet and dry pet food products. We take pride in our commitment to unparalleled quality, ensuring that our foods not only meet, but exceed the expectations of pet parents.

This Scientist position will be responsible for ingredient and formulation testing, champion cost‑saving initiatives, drive ingredient reliability and sustainability discussions with internal and external partners, and lead critical troubleshooting efforts with our manufacturing plants. In addition, this position will be a key collaborator providing essential support to diverse cross‑functional teams, including Global Technology, Procurement, Quality, Supply Chain, and Regulatory, and building strong partnerships with external suppliers.

• Support implementation of company’s technology goals by developing products from bench top to commercialization.
• Partner with Net‑Ops and Quality, to complete root‑cause analysis of operational and/or product issues and implement optimal solutions, including alternate supplier qualifications.
• Lead in technical and cross functional project teams.
• Apply fundamental food science and processing knowledge for optimum ingredient and finished product functionality and nutrition.
• Transform nutrient standards of ingredients and formulations to meet finished product functional, regulatory, and cost standards.
• Coordinate all documents that support the approval and maintenance of Hill’s ingredient portfolio.
• Team with vendors and manufacturing to establish and update ingredient shelf life, storage, and handling.
• Conduct biological and feeding tests to ensure product and ingredient acceptability with the pet.
• Partner with process engineers and manufacturing for synergy in ingredient handling and conveyance within process development.
• Validate alternate ingredient performance through coordination & interpretation of product evaluations including analytical, palatability, sensory, and stability testing.

• BS or BA degree in Food Science, Nutrition, Food engineering, Animal Science, or related technical field.
• Minimum 3 years of animal or food industry experience.

• Working knowledge of nutritional science.
• MS or PhD in Food Science, Nutrition, Food engineering, Animal Science, or related…