Senior Scientist

Job Title: Applications & Product Development Senior Scientist

Work Location: New Jersey

Division/Department: Product Development & Applications

Reports to: Applications Lab Manager

Overview:

My client is seeking a detail-oriented and motivated individual to join our team as an Application and Product Development Senior Scientist in the Food & Beverage industry. As a Senior Scientist, you will play a crucial role assisting senior team members develop formulations across all beverage categories, including CSDs, dairy, non-dairy, coffee, tea, protein, juice, non-juice, and vitamin & energy fortification formulation. My client also deals with a variety of other categories including Sweet and Dairy and Savory. This is an on-site role in New Jersey where an individual will gain insight into the industry, as well as understanding the responsibilities of a Senior Scientist role within the company. This role requires excellent communication skills to successfully collaborate across multiple departments to deliver results in a team-oriented setting. The Senior Scientist should be able to lead a team of Scientists and Technicians while meeting critical deadlines and delivering superior service to the clients.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Own and manage multiple projects developing stable cost-effective consumer products that meet customer expectations & project parameters including processing parameters, ingredient functionality, costs, regulatory constraints, and flavor tonality.

• Able to independently develop products from conceptualization to scale-up.

• Be the subject matter expert in training more junior staff.

• Conduct routine laboratory tests to resolve technical challenges, ensure products meet performance, stability, quality and safety standards and communicate findings with R&D team and relevant stakeholders, including senior leadership.

• Conduct sensory evaluations and prototype evaluations with Applications and Flavor Team to ensure product consistency and quality.

• Accountable to monitor and maintain laboratory equipment and supplies, ensuring they are in proper working condition.

• Aid in vetting new and alternative ingredients in finished products.

• Leverage internal and external resources to bring insight, expertise, and efficiency into project executions and to improve team knowledge.

• Scale up lab-scale processes to pilot and production levels.

• Ability to travel both domestically and internationally to assist with scale up to support commercialization runs.

Education and/or Work Experience and Other Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Food Science, Chemistry, or related field. Master’s degree preferred.

• 5 - 15 years of experience working as a Scientist in the food and beverage industry.

• Strong knowledge of food science principles, regulations, and industry best practices.

• Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and tight deadlines.

• Ability to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.

• Extensive knowledge of food and beverage testing techniques, equipment, and procedures.

• Knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), food safety and quality control procedures. • Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills, with keen attention to detail and accurate record keeping.

• Effective communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to effectively collaborate with team members and other departments, including outside clients and senior leadership.

• Ability to work independently and collaborate in a team environment.