Senior Food Scientist

The Senior Food Scientist will report directly to the Director, Food Science. This role leads product development initiatives and establishes operational objectives and work plans across the food science function. The Senior Food Scientist will drive new formulations and identify opportunities in our current food and future products, while also mentoring and developing a direct report.

They will serve as a key resource to Customer Experience, Brand, Animal Healthcare, and Operations team for physical product and process information. This role will also require travel of up to 40%.

- Create products based on ingredient functionality, nutritional targets, consumer need, claim substantiation, operational feasibility, and financial targets. Bringing products from concept through commercialization.

- Design, execute, and document bench-top experiments to evaluate ingredient functionality, texture, palatability, nutritional density, and processing behavior; apply DOE principles to efficiently optimize formulations against nutritional targets, cost constraints, and consumer acceptance criteria; maintain rigorous lab notebooks and experimental records that support regulatory submissions, IP filings, and internal knowledge management.

- Assist with pilot facility maintenance and management. Daily activities will include equipment maintenance and sanitation as well as ingredient inventory and management.

- Prepare, label, and ship product samples for internal evaluation, external sensory panels, analytical testing, and feeding trials, maintaining chain-of-custody documentation and cold-chain integrity throughout.

- Analyze data from plant trials, proximate and nutrient analyses, feeding trials, and shelf-life studies; and translate findings into clear conclusions, actionable recommendations.

- Fully own all trial and experiment documentation, ensuring all information is clear, articulate, and accessible for relevant stakeholders.

- Author,own, and maintain ingredient, WIP, and finished product specifications; and manage version control through product life cycle changes.

- Develop and communicate project timelines and costs, and proactively surface risks or changes to senior leadership.

- Proactively work with cross-functional team members in Manufacturing, Operations, Product, Animal Healthcare, and Customer Experience to drive alignment and execution.

- 8+ years of experience in R&D or Product Development in the food manufacturing industry, with a demonstrated track record of taking products from concept to commercialization. Experience in companion animal or pet food product development strongly preferred; human food or animal nutrition backgrounds considered.

- You have a Bachelor's Degree (or higher) in Animal Science, Food Science, or a related field.

- You have demonstrated experience managing or mentoring direct reports, with a track record of developing talent and driving team results.

- You are a direct, caring, and persuasive communicator and establish rapport easily with people on your cross-functional team and other key collaborators.

- You love to dig into the details, but it's also easy for you to pull up and look at the big picture.

- You have flexibility to commit to up to 40% travel, dependent on the event calendar and plant trials.

- You have proficient knowledge of food formulation, food safety, and manufacturing.

- You are able to thrive in a fast-paced and ambiguous environment, naturally curious and proactive self-starter, constantly on the lookout for new opportunities and solutions.

- You're an owner, have excellent problem-solving skills, and can prioritize tasks effectively, with a strong attention to detail.

- You're a skilled communicator with the ability to absorb and distill complexity into simple terms to drive decision making.