Scientist - Meat Science

Overview

Join our Research & Development team!  It's an exciting time for Kemin's Food Technologies team as we continue our focus on protein ingredients. Kemin has made its largest investment ever in building a brand new, state of the art production facility that will be home to manufacturing some of our newest ingredients.  Come help us transform the world by creating clean label ingredients that improve yields, nutrition and quality of a variety of meats, poultry and protein-based applications.  

We are seeking an experienced Meat Scientist who will be responsible for leading R&D projects, performing literature reviews and intellectual property evaluation, participating in external research collaborations, and providing research, technical support to current and potential customers.

The ideal candidate will have a background in Meat Science and be a strong communicator.  This role will be a blend of laboratory work and cross-functional work with other departments as well as customer interaction.  If you love the science and are passionate about developing customer-based solutions, this may be the job for you!

While we may require a certain level of experience or education for this position, we encourage candidates of varying scientific background to apply and explore other opportunities that may align with their skills and experience.

We Are Kemin 

We are visionaries who see things differently and are inspired by the world around us.  

We have been dedicated to using applied science to improve the quality of life for over half a century.   

We are a global ingredient manufacturer that strives to sustainably transform the quality of life every day for 80 percent of the world with its products and services.  

For over half a century, Kemin has been dedicated to using applied science to address industry challenges and offer product solutions to customers in more than 120 countries. Kemin provides ingredients to feed a growing population with its commitment to the quality, safety and efficacy of food, feed and health-related products to customers in more than 120 countries.   

Established in 1961, Kemin is a privately held, family-owned-and-operated company with more than 2,800 global employees and operations in 90 countries, including manufacturing facilities in Belgium, Brazil, China, India, Italy, Russia, San Marino, Singapore, South Africa and the United States.

As a Kemin team member, you’ll receive…  

• A competitive financial package- in addition to your salary, we offer an uncapped bonus opportunity, 401k match program, and paid vacation and holidays. 
• Robust health and wellness support- we are proud to offer a fitness reimbursement (for your whole family!), an on-site fitness center, restaurant with seasonal fresh food options (and the ability to order food to bring home), and free fresh fruit in break areas- to name a few.  

• Continued learning opportunities- Kemin offers tuition reimbursement and recently launched a new corporate university with online and in-person training opportunities for growth and development throughout your entire career.  
• The chance to give back to our world- Through our foundation of servant leadership, we are proud to offer ample service opportunities, including paid time off to do so. Kemin has a valued corporate partnership with both The World Food Programme and Habitat for Humanity, in addition to many local initiatives. 
• Opportunities to support our valued educators- Kemin is a proud sponsor of the Iowa Governor's Stem Advisory Council where we fund annual teacher's awards. In addition, we have a robust internship and externship program, and frequently host student tours.  

Responsibilities

• Independently lead multiple R&D projects and act as technical lead on multiple cross functional teams.
• Perform literature reviews and incorporate into research strategies.
• Be able to design and execute bench/pilot trials, interpret results, write technical reports, and make recommendations to business.
• Identify internal and external opportunities to obtain new intellectual property and evaluating external intellectual property and freedom to operate issues.
• Responsible for identifying and participating in external research collaborations.
• Must be able to actively identify and lead research areas that could lead to new product development or process improvement, with minimal supervision.
• Maintain accurate and detailed electronic laboratory notebooks.
• Must adhere to laboratory standard operating procedures, documentation and guidelines.
• Troubleshoot issues with laboratory equipment and instrumentation.
• Review and approve SOPs, research protocols, and research methods.
• Prepare and present research reports in multiple formats for both internal and external audiences.
• Generate scientific publications used for internal or external purposes.
• Participate in strategic planning and customer meetings.

Qualifications

• Education (required Food or Meat Science field of study) & Industry Experience:
• PhD with 5 years of relevant experience in a scientific or engineering field.
• This position may be hired at a higher or lower level commensurate with experience.
• Fundamental knowledge in meat/muscle biology and chemistry, meat processing and preservation.
• Hands on experience in meat processing and analysis at bench/pilot scale and familiarity with plant scale manufacturing.
• Willingness and capability to participate in sensory evaluation of meat products.
• Detail oriented, organized, prioritization skills, and motivated by accomplishment.
• Must be able to work independently and work as a team in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong experimental design, data collection, and problem-solving skills.
• Good written and oral communication skills, suitable for external presentations.
• Excellent people interaction skills and able and willing to provide exceptional customer service to internal and external customers.
• Advanced computer knowledge (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, etc.), ability to understand and perform basic statistical analysis.
• Scientific curiosity and innovation.
• Handle multiple projects efficiently.
• Good project management skills.
• Ability to apply knowledge quickly to projects.
• Fluent in English
• Up to 20% domestic travel. 

A post-offer background check and drug screen is required.  Additional pre-employment requirements may be necessary based on position.

Kemin is an equal opportunity employer, and all reasonable accommodations will be considered.

Kemin is a drug-free and tobacco-free campus. 

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