Position Title: Food Scientist
Position Type: Regular - Full-Time
Position Location: Oakbrook Terrace
Grade: Grade 04
Requisition ID: 30924
Role Outline
This role reports to the R&D Innovation Director, focused on Front End Innovation. Working within the North American potato product development team, and in partnership with the commercial teams, this role will be accountable for technical project management and project execution to contribute to the potato business growth. The role provides technical leadership within project teams, across functions, and with stakeholders.
Core Accountabilities/Outcomes:
Technical Expertise
- Manage multiple product development projects from conception to commercialization
- Develop new product concepts and prototypes
- Translate project objectives into experimental design and provide experimental/project conclusions, summaries and recommendations
- Develop and implement all product documents, specifications and related technical costing information
- Assist in the development and completion of project timelines
- Coordinate and oversee plant scale tests
- Communicate plant scale test objectives, special needs, accept/reject criteria to plant representatives and assure the objectives of the test are met
- Assist in process optimization projects and problem resolution with Technical Services, Operations, Engineering, QA and other departments as assigned
- Evaluate and adjust product and manufacturing cost parameters to meet operational and sales objectives
Suppliers and Customers:
- Interface with customers, suppliers and co-packers, as required, to meet Department and Company objectives:
- Leads or supports assigned projects at co-packers
- Realizes customer needs by developing new concepts or product improvement opportunities, prototypes and products
- Coordinates raw material sourcing, evaluation and improvement activities with suppliers
- Assists Sales and Marketing in developing and delivering effective customer presentations and training
Qualification
- Minimum of 3 years of demonstrated successful experience in food product development or food science
- B.Sc. or M.Sc. in Food Science or related field
Skills
- Strong communication, interpersonal, organizational skills with an aptitude for creativity, innovation and ability to resolve challenges.
- Comfort with ambiguity, required when working in Front End Innovation
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and manage timelines
- Project management skills and experience completing projects in tight timelines using good experimental design techniques and practices.
- Organized and detail-oriented, with excellent record keeping skills
- Ability to work independently
- Knowledge of food plant, process and equipment
- Knowledge of GMP, HACCP, Food Safety, Product Development Cycle
- Knowledge of food preparation, consumer product testing, sensory testing and manufacturing operations procedures.
- Sound knowledge of food ingredients, and the interaction with processing and packaging.
- Working knowledge of general mathematics and scientific weights and measures.
- Ability to perform mathematical calculations and utilize statistical techniques to analyze and present data.
This role sits within Global R&D team and is a fundamental part of North American Potato PD team.
McCain Foods is an equal opportunity employer. We see value in ensuring we have a diverse, antiracist, inclusive, merit-based, and equitable workplace. As a global family-owned company we are proud to reflect the diverse communities around the world in which we live and work. We recognize that diversity drives our creativity, resilience, and success and makes our business stronger.
McCain is an accessible employer. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials or accessible meeting rooms), please let us know and we will work with you to meet your needs.
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Job Family: Research & Development
Division: Global Research and Development
Department: Research and Development Innovation
Location(s): US - United States of America : Illinois : Oakbrook Terrace
Company: McCain Foods USA, Inc.
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