Sr Research Scientist, Continuous Improvement

Location: Hershey, PA

Summary:

Reporting to the Manager, Salty Process Development & CI and based in the Hershey Technical Center in Hershey, PA, the Sr. Research Scientist position provides a critical leadership for Continuous Improvement (CI) projects to supper the development and implementation of product and process optimization initiatives. They include ingredients and commodities, product design, process and manufacturing improvement for Hershey's Salty Business Unit including SkinnyPop, Pirate's Booty, Dot's pretzels, Hershey Popcorn, and Pretzels Inc. The successful candidate must be able to operate with medium to high autonomy across all initiatives is required. The successful candidate will consistently demonstrate and apply technical knowledge and expertise. This candidate can develop and share technical expertise within functional area and cross functionally within the organization. This candidate has proven problem solving skills and is a critical thinker, resulting in problem resolution and process improvements. The successful candidate can communicate complex or technical subject matter to different audiences at different levels within the organization. This candidate has the capability to influence stakeholders and leverage networks to provide solutions. Application of Lean/Six Sigma principles are a requirement for manufacturing optimization initiatives.

Specific Role Focus Area:

• Assume technical responsibility for the development, validation, and implementation of projects related to commodity and ingredient sourcing, product design, and manufacturing optimization to sustainably improve supply flexibility, dependability, and cost structure.
• Develop initial process and product specifications, formulations, scope of work and schedule.
• Conduct proof of principle testing to evaluate technical and financial feasibility for proposed solutions.
• Review results and provide recommendations for next steps either through further testing and/or changes deemed necessary to formulation and manufacturing processes to assure process capacity and efficiency to meet the business plan.
• Prepare project reports, deduct significance of results and conclusions, and make presentations of findings to management as pertinent to complete assignments.
• Work within a team to ensure product recipe and specification documentation are complete and accurate.

This role will interact and partner with:

• R&D team members
• Manufacturing and Co-Manufacturing
• Engineering
• Enterprise and Salty CI teams
• QRC
• Project Management
• Procurement

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

Lead technical development for technical continuous improvement throughout the Salty manufacturing network (70%): Lead: 50%, Assist: 10%, Supervise: 10%.

• Actively seek new projects to support Salty CI opportunities.
• Lead/support product and process improvement initiatives throughout the Salty manufacturing network.
• Utilize food science and process engineering principals, technical training and judgment to resolve product quality, process troubleshooting and optimization initiatives.
• Utilize root cause analysis and structured problem-solving methodology to identify root cause, develop and implement solutions to projects.
• Test ideas through experimental design, collect and analyze data using analytical process tools to provide recommendations.
• Bring technical rigor to troubleshoot technical issues.
• Determine next steps through problem solving.
• Collaborate with cross-functional groups to ideate, identify, develop solutions, and commercialize new technologies.
• Have a good understanding of current ingredient and processing technologies across salty snacks industry and continue to explore new and breakthrough technologies

Research design/data analysis/report writing/ presentation (30%).

• Design and execute experiments, analyze data and provide conclusions using an appropriate statistical tool.
• Prepare all project reports as required.
• Create and deliver presentations of significant

Minimum knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform major duties/responsibilities:

• Possess full working technical knowledge of product and process development and optimization, including formula and process development, optimization, manufacturing validation and implementation with Salty Snacks including popcorn, extruded snacks, baked snacks (pretzels, cookies, crackers)
• Demonstrated application of food science and process engineering principles in developing manufacturing solutions with understanding of the interaction between process unit operations and product physical and sensory properties, related to Salty Snacks
• Possess the appropriate combination of knowledge and experience in design of manufacturing systems for the food industry including: a basic understanding of common process unit operations and equipment used in the food industry, sanitary design, construction practices and general knowledge of common equipment suppliers in the food industry.
• Possess the appropriate combinations of knowledge and experience to have a basic understanding of Process Flow Diagrams and preferably P&ID's.
• Working knowledge of lean manufacturing, TPM, and green/black belt certification
• Experience operating lab and pilot scale equipment/instrumentation and working in a manufacturing plant.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, exercising a moderate level of judgment in project execution.
• Possess time management skills and the ability to prioritize and manage multiple priorities in an expedient manner, understanding the required business objectives, developing solutions and schedules, and efficient and expedient project executions.
• Interpersonal skills that allow for effective working relationships at all levels across the organization.
• Ability to work in a team environment and independently in a flexible work environment with changing priorities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proficient computer literacy, fluent with Microsoft Office Suite
• Ability to accommodate unusual and extended work hours as required for project completion
• 30-50% travel required

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:

• BS degree in Food Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Food Science, or engineering-related field with 5-8 years' experience, MS or PhD in Food Science or related field with 2-4 years' experience.
• Intern and prior research project work will be considered; Salty Snacks product development experience is preferred.

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