Associate Scientist

Associate Scientist

At Horizon Organic, we’re growing a culture of passionate people driven to do good for the horizon we all share. We’re building the tomorrow we want to see. Every single day.

Joining our team means being part of a dynamic environment where your skills are valued, and your contributions make a real difference. We offer diverse opportunities for career growth and development. Embark on a rewarding journey with us in shaping the future of organic dairy!

Two generations of families—and counting—have grown up on Horizon Organic® milk. From the start, as the leading organic milk producer in the U.S., Horizon has been committed to delivering innovative, nourishing dairy that growing families can rely on. In 2023, Horizon Organic became a brand of Platinum Equity. Today, Horizon works with more than 500 farmers across the U.S. to bring high-quality, certified organic milk to consumers. For more information on Horizon’s full portfolio of organic dairy products, visit Horizon.com.

About the Job:

We are currently looking to hire an Associate Scientist!

This role focuses on Organic Dairy products, including Milk (ESL & UHT), cultured dairy items, and other products supporting the HFB business. The candidate will be responsible for the research, development, and commercialization of new products specific to customer needs, supporting innovation, and formula and process optimization for existing products.

Collaboration with internal teams such as Marketing, Sales, Operations, Quality, and external partners and suppliers is essential. The role requires hands-on bench and analytical work, pilot plant operations, managing formula costs, and overseeing specifications for ingredients, product, and process. The candidate will assist in coordinating and conduct industrial tests and support the industrial scale-up process.

Basic project management and good communication skills are essential, as is a genuine passion for dairy. We are looking for someone who is curious and eager to learn.

This is a hybrid position with an expectation of 3 days per week onsite in Broomfield, CO. Overnight travel required up to 25% of the time.

In this role, you will be responsible for:

• Contribute to the development of new ideas and products in categories outside of the current HFB portfolio.
• Assist in the creation of formulations and processes that meet consumer expectations, food safety standards, cost, and timing requirements. Ensure developed products comply with internal and external guidelines for nutrition, regulatory affairs, and food labeling.
• Apply knowledge of food safety, HACCP, and quality regulations and programs in daily tasks.
• Support project management using the STAGE GATE PROCESS methodology under guidance.
• Assist in defining product attributes that align with consumer expectations and provide technical support within the program team.
• Help plan, execute, and manage the development of prototype products in the lab, pilot plant, and production facilities. Ensure detailed and accurate technical and experimental documentation is maintained.
• Participate in tasting sessions with Marketing and cross-functional teams, offering insights and recommendations for next steps.
• Support consumer test design, coordinate sample production, and follow up on product quality.
• Assist in scale-up and industrialization efforts with Engineering and Manufacturing teams, including conducting shelf-life studies and nutrient analysis.
• Utilize R&D systems and tools for specification creation and revisions, nutritional labeling, project briefs, risk assessments, launch checklists, and product development timelines under supervision.
• Collaborate with suppliers to ensure project timelines stay on track and assist in exploring new technologies, capabilities, and ingredients.
• Assists senior members of R&D team in their activities but not limited to conducting bench top experiments, pilot plant trials, and executing other tasks as assigned.
• Provide support to for departmental needs, including helping with R&D lab functions, Specification management, vendor management, and other duties as assigned.

The base compensation range for this position is $75,000 - $95,000 commensurate with experience.

About You:

• Bachelor's degree in food science, nutrition, or closely related field with 0 - 2 years of relevant experience.
• You will apply basic product development and scientific principles, along with technical software knowledge, to assist in product formulation and process development.
• You will Understand the financial impact of product levers on formulations and apply basic project management skills to track timelines and ensure project success.
• You will collaborate effectively within R&D teams and build relationships with external partners to support project timelines.
• You will communicate results clearly, conduct basic product reviews, and contribute to discussions on project progress and next steps.
• You will work on complex projects under senior R&D member’s supervision and support familiar projects with ongoing review to ensure quality and standards.
• You are through and can learn in a fast-paced environment.