Product Development Scientist

Propel your career forward as a Product Development Scientist with a leading beverage company partnering with Aquent. In this pivotal role, you will be a driving force behind innovative new product formulations and renovations, shaping the future of beloved beverage brands. Your expertise will directly impact millions of consumers, as you translate consumer insights into tangible products, from initial concept to successful launch. Partnering with Marketing, Quality, and Engineering teams, you will lead product development initiatives, ensuring alignment with consumer preferences and business objectives. This is an exceptional opportunity to make a significant contribution to a dynamic and growing organization.

This is a hybrid role, working 2-3 days per week onsite in Stamford. CT

Job Overview:

As a key member of the R&D team, the Product Development Scientist will spearhead the development and scale-up of new beverage formulations, working cross-functionally to bring innovative products to market. This role requires a deep understanding of food science, beverage development, and project management, along with a passion for creating high-quality products that meet consumer demands.

Responsibilities:

• Lead consumer-focused new product/formula development projects.
• Develop and manage project plans, ensuring timely and on-budget execution.
• Conduct hands-on benchtop beverage development, scale-up, and industrialization.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Marketing, Quality, Engineering, Purchasing, Regulatory, and Legal) to achieve project goals.
• Lead the qualification of third-party flavor houses and develop RFPs/briefs for new flavor/ingredient opportunities.
• Manage technical aspects of projects, including key deliverables and next steps.
• Build and maintain relationships with ingredient suppliers, process technology partners, and other external resources.
• Effectively prioritize and manage multiple projects concurrently.
• Adhere to quality management systems and technical instructions for new product development.
• Support ongoing operations with recipe/ingredient specification changes and new ingredient qualifications.

Must-Have Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, or a related field.
• 7-10 years of relevant experience in product development, process scale-up, quality, or manufacturing in a CPG setting (beverage development highly preferred).
• Strong project management experience, with the ability to manage multiple projects in a matrix environment.
• Proven ability to manage complexity and ambiguity.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills, with the ability to influence across functions.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Project, PowerPoint, and SAP.
• Understanding of financials (COGs, basic P&L).
• Ability to travel approximately 15% throughout the year.

Nice-to-Have Qualifications:

• Six Sigma Certification (GSTD/DMAIC).
• Financial improvement (FI) experience.

The target hiring compensation range for this role is $59.35 to $65.95 an hour. Compensation is based on several factors including, but not limited to education, relevant work experience, relevant certifications, and location.

About Aquent Talent:

Aquent Talent connects the best talent in marketing, creative, and design with the world's biggest brands.

Our eligible talent get access to amazing benefits like subsidized health, vision, and dental plans, paid sick leave, and retirement plans with a match. We also offer free online training through Aquent Gymnasium. More information on our awesome benefits!

Aquent is an equal-opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. We're about creating an inclusive environment — one where different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, and everyone can contribute, grow their careers, and thrive.