Sr Scientist, R&D - Product Development (Hydration, Desserts and Meals)

Job Description

Senior Scientist Product Development (Hydration, Desserts & Meals)

This is a Research and Development (R&D) role leading Product Development initiatives under the Shelf Stable Meals team within the Hydration, Desserts, and Meals platform. The role primarily supports the macaroni and cheese business, which includes the Kraft Mac and Cheese, Velveeta Shells and Cheese, and Cracker Barrel Mac and Cheese brands. The candidate will be leading and driving technical projects to meet business initiatives focused on growth, productivity, ESG, and brand maintenance. 

The Senior Scientist candidate should have a proven record of successfully leading, executing, and commercializing projects ranging in technical complexity with minimal guidance, and getting results in a variety of challenging and complex settings. 

The candidate should have experience leading business initiatives while exhibiting a collaborative approach and applying innovative solutions. Strong communication and collaboration skills are essential in this role, which operates in a dynamic and cross-functional environment. 

What's on the menu? 

Project Management: Leads development and execution across multiple projects ranging from low to high technical complexity for the Meals & Kits BU 

• Manage multiple assignments/research projects concurrently and possess the ability to prioritize between a variety of business initiatives 

• Commercialization: Deep knowledge of commercialization processes and required activities as the technical/R&D lead. Ability to troubleshoot challenges. 

• Collaboration: Work with cross functional teams acting as the lead product developer to drive execution across multiple projects 

• Communication: Provide updates to cross-functional teams; Identify hurdles and propose solutions 

• Translate research findings into meaningful business objectives 

• Champion an innovation approach and exhibit influence on the cross functional partners 

• Mentor, coach and collaborate with other colleagues within and outside of your immediate team 

• Demonstrate the ability to develop relationships with and coordinate commercialization activities across internal and external manufacturing facilities. 

• Lead and complete product testing, qualification, and commercialization in laboratory and production environments 

Recipe for Success - apply now if this sounds like you! 

• Bachelor’s Degree (Master’s is a Plus) - Food Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Life Sciences or related fields 

• 4+ years Product Development and commercialization experience within a CPG or equivalent 

• Project management experience, technical expertise, and food science/processing knowledge 

• Spray-dry, process cheese, and dry powder blending experience preferred. 

• Excellent communication, influencing, project management and problem solving skills 

• Highly motivated and able to multi-task varying degrees of complex projects 

• Willingness/ability to learn new product categories and/or processing areas 

• Willingness to travel up to 30%. Travel could in