Sr. Scientist Product Development- Spreads

 

About Flora Food Group

We offer consumers a compelling choice in four growing categories: butters and spreads, creams, liquids and cheeses. We hold leadership positions in many of the 100 countries we operate in, with iconic brands including Flora, Becel+ProActiv, Blue Band, Country Crock, I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter, Rama, and Violife, together with our local brands and Professional business.  

Global branded food champion Flora Food Group, offers the next generation of delicious, natural, nutritious food. Our products are more affordable and more sustainable than their dairy equivalents.  

 

If you’re passionate about R&D, join us and take a front seat in our Global Product Development Team based in the New Century, Kansas. As one of our R&D product and process technologist, you will work on new product developments and cost saving projects for markets & factories around the world. In multidisciplinary project teams, you will independently work hand-in-glove with Marketing, Supply Chain and all other supporting functions needed to deliver the projects.

The role is part of the global product design team, focused on plant spreads, mainly retail but also professional use. The role is based in New Century, KS, Based out our new New Century, KS Pilot Plant. With State-of-the-Art professional application kitchen, where innovations are designed and tested. Labs and pilot plant.

As the Senior Product and Process Technologist you will drive differentiation versus competition by designing plant-based products for superior taste and performance, naturalness and nutritional properties. By applying state-of-the-art ingredient-, formulation- and processing technologies. The Senior Product and Process Technologist relentlessly pushes the boundaries and makes the impossible possible for the benefit of our customers.  

Need more details?

You will contribute to the successful for innovation and renovation projects worldwide, with responsibility to deliver On Time In Full, with the right quality and cost.

You will be responsible for building the technology capability, comprising full mastering of pilot scale and factory scale processing. It is key to stay in tune with industry trends, scientific advancements.

You will design and develop innovative product prototypes on bench and pilot plant scale, determine processes and working in close collaboration with our manufacturing sites to implement new innovations and processes. Data driven mindset and building scientific hypothesis are your preferred way of working.

You will set up the relevant parts of product/technical specifications for sourcing and supply chain in line with quality, consumer safety and regulatory requirements.

You will develop product benefits and claims for relevant projects including substantiation.

What will your working day look like as Product Developer spreads:

 

• Design experiments with a data driven mindset, building on scientific hypothesis.
• Lead lab and pilot plant trials to test and refine (plant & hybrid) spreads and plant butter
• Collaborate with other product developers and science/material/processing experts to conduct experiments and create the data the learn in the smartest way.
• Analyze trial results to optimize product and process design.
• Test & optimize your formulations for sensory analysis
• Test & optimize your formulations with consumers and customers, to validate Best Ever Products
• Scale up successful formulations & processing from pilot plant for factory scale production testing.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver the best products and processing to the market.
• You will define and write the specifications of the proven products and processes
• Implement continuous improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency and effectiveness across all stages of product development and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and industry standards throughout the development process.
• Travel when required for workshops, supplier visits and scale up trials in the factory

 

What is your background?

You have a Masters degree (or equivalent experience with a Bachelor degree), preferably Foods Technology, chemical engineering or equivalent. 

You have a minimum of 3-5 years of relevant experience in international product development and/or processing.

You have practical knowledge of fat-based or emulsion food science and technology.

You have a proven track-record of innovation delivery.

You have led small teams, and you have a proven track record of successful teamworking across geographies and cultures.

You have the ability to think stra