Principal Research Scientist, Product Development & Innovation - Nutrition - Columbus, OH

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 115,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

     

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Principal Research Scientist, Product Development & Innovation

About Abbott

Working at Abbott

Our nutrition business develops science-based nutrition products for people of all ages, from helping babies and children grow to keeping adult bodies strong and active. Millions of people around the world count on our leading brands – including Similac®, PediaSure®, Pedialyte®, Ensure®, and Glucerna® – to help them get the nutrients they need to live their healthiest lives.

At Abbott, you can do work that matters, grow, and learn, care for yourself and your family, be your true self, and live a full life. You’ll also have access to:

• Career development with an international company where you can grow the career you dream of.
• Employees can qualify for free medical coverage in our Health Investment Plan (HIP) PPO medical plan in the next calendar year.
• An excellent retirement savings plan with a high employer contribution
• Tuition reimbursement, the Freedom 2 Save student debt program, and FreeU education benefit - an affordable and convenient path to getting a bachelor’s degree.
• A company recognized as a great place to work in dozens of countries worldwide and named one of the most admired companies in the world by Fortune.
• A company that is recognized as one of the best big companies to work for as well as the best place to work for diversity, working mothers, female executives, and scientists.

The Opportunity

Our location in Columbus, OH, currently has an opportunity for an Principal Research Scientist, Product Development & Innovation

In Research & Development (R&D) our ambition is to provide innovative high-quality products, creating sustainable value, delivering superior user experience and enhancing health outcomes at all stages of life.

This role provides technical and people leadership for a team of Product Development scientists supporting innovation and development initiatives across multiple brands. The position is responsible for developing talent, providing technical direction, and delivering products that meet targets for performance, quality, cost, and speed-to-market through excellence in execution. This role also drives future growth by identifying and evaluating new technologies and innovation opportunities while leading complex programs from concept through commercialization.

WHAT YOU’LL DO  

• Lead complex innovation and product development programs from concept through commercialization, delivering technical excellence and successful business outcomes.
• Foster a culture of innovation and scientific rigor while coaching and developing scientists to build organizational capability.
• Partner with Commercial Innovation and cross-functional teams to identify, evaluate, and advance product innovation opportunities across Abbott Nutrition's portfolio.
• Lead exploratory efforts in strategic growth areas, providing feasibility assessments and technical recommendations that inform pipeline decisions.
• Assess emerging technologies, ingredients, and scientific developments while responding to urgent business needs, technical challenges, and leadership inquiries.
• Build new scientific capabilities and create knowledge through research, technology evaluation, and external partnerships.

Required Qualifications

• PhD in Food Science, Engineering, Chemistry, or related scientific field preferred; MS degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience will also be considered.
• Significant product development experience within nutrition, food, beverage, or science-driven consumer products industries (9+ years preferred).
• Experience leading and developing technical talent.
• Demonstrated technical expertise in product development, formulation, and commercialization.
• Demonstrated success leading complex, cross-functional programs from concept through commercial launch.