R&D Food Scientist II

Mom's Meals is seeking a R&D Food Scientist II for a hands-on role to join our growing team. The R&D team is responsible for designing and improving current meals to support our company’s mission – improving life through better nutrition at home. In this role you will work within the development team to create, enhance, and optimize our meals. You will work on innovation, cost-savings initiatives; all while collaborating within cross-functional teams to develop new products and product improvements to meet project needs. This role requires an understanding of food science principles, culinary innovation, experience in product development, strong organization and communication skills, critical thinking, and a passion for helping others.

Position Responsibilities may include, but not limited to

• Assist the Director of R&D in executing innovation strategies that align with the company’s objectives and growth targets
• Identify opportunities for new product concepts or enhancements to existing offerings
• Oversee aspects of product development from concept to commercialization to support a Phase-Gate process
• Develop gold standard formulas, conduct sensory evaluations of meals and ingredients, and refine formulations to meet desired taste, texture, nutritional, and regulatory requirements
• Conduct production line trials and provide ongoing production support post product launch
• Help foster a culture of creativity and innovation within the team, encouraging the generation of new ideas and approaches to meet both customer and company needs
• Spearhead the Change Control process needs related to R&D formula development while working closely with other teams to ensure the necessary formulations are ready for production
• Collaborate with Quality Assurance and label team members to ensure that product innovations align with regulatory requirements
• Communicate progress, challenges, and outcomes of product development initiatives to the department director, providing data-driven insights to support decision-making
• Help identify areas for process improvement within the product development function and implement best practices to enhance efficiency and effectiveness

Required Skills and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Culinary Science, or related field
• 3-5+ years of experience in product development, R&D, or innovation roles within the food industry
• Proven track record of successfully end-to-end product development projects, from concept to launch
• Strong time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and prioritize effectively
• Self-directed as it relates to personal development; ability to create, develop, and foster effective working relationships with the team
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work within cross-functional teams and collaborate proactively
• Creative problem-solving abilities and a passion for innovation and continuous improvement
• Organized and detail-oriented, with excellent record keeping skills
• HACCP Certification and or FSPCA Certification
• RTE product development experience
• Flexibility to adapt to changing project priorities and deadlines
• Working knowledge of general mathematics and scientific weights and measures
• Proficient understanding of the nutritional impact of ingredients, as well as expertise in pH, water activity (aw), and viscosity testing procedures
• Ability to travel overnight, 25% of the time, for production implementation needs, conferences, or project-related activities to help support the company’s goals and quality production
• Ability to work in cold environments, prolonged standing

Preferred Skills and Experiences

• Advanced degree in Food Science, Culinary Science, or related field

Physical Requirements

• Repetitive motions that include the wrists, hands and/or fingers
• Sedentary work that primarily involves sitting, remaining in a stationary position for prolonged periods
• Visual perception to perform job including peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus