Associate Scientist, R&D - Product Development

Role Summary 
This is a research based technical development role supporting projects across the Away From Home and KHI business. The Associate Scientist will support and execute technical projects that meet business initiatives focused on innovation, renovation, and brand maintenance. This role requires a strong technical foundation, excellent written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to apply prior learning or scientific principles to new situations. This position requires an individual to manage multiple assignments and tasks concurrently, work effectively with cross-functional partners, and continue building technical capability through hands-on development and commercialization work. 

Key Components 

• Conduct benchtop experiments in the lab to support innovation, renovation, and brand maintenance work across the Away From Home and KHI business 

• Test new and existing products for flavor, texture, color, nutritional content, shelf-life, and adherence to government and industry standards 

• Support development and commercialization of new products, renovation of existing products, ingredient evaluation, and cost savings initiatives across the business 

• Work collaboratively with Packaging, Quality, Operations, Project Management, Marketing, and Sales to scope, support, and implement projects that meet business objectives 

• Support activities such as feasibility assessments, prototype development, costing, supervision of factory trials, development of recipe and factory documentation, recipe and label development, technical approval, shelf-life assessments, and technical support for initial factory production 

• Support pilot plant and manufacturing scale-up of formulas 

• Help progress projects from ideation through commercialization, from benchtop samples to final production and from raw material to finished product specification 

• Support multiple product development assignments concurrently to meet R&D timelines and business needs 

• Partner with cross-functional teams to advance projects, resolve technical issues, and support business continuity 

• Conduct lab, pilot plant, and manufacturing trials to optimize formulations and processing systems 

• Maintain high-quality technical documentation and specifications that support consistent product execution 

• Demonstrate flexibility and willingness to learn new categories, technologies, and processing areas in support of business needs 

Qualifications 

• Good communication, critical thinking, and investigation skills 

• Self-starter with a passion to learn is a must 

• Handle multiple assignments/tasks concurrently with the ability to question the priority of work 

• Strong understanding of Design of Experiments 

• Willingness to travel 30% pending business needs 

• B.S. degree in Food, Dairy, Meat Science or Chemical Engineering or equivalent 

• Internship or Co-op Experience in the food or consumer products industry preferred 

Work Environment & Schedule 

This position is considered a normal office environment with 30% travel or visits to external locations; offices are open workspaces. Additionally, this role requires in-office presence at least three days per week in compliance with the hybrid work schedule. 

Physical Requirements 

Physical demands include, but are not limited to: 

· Lift up to 30 lbs and navigate lab, storage, pilot plant, and manufacturing environments. 

This job description is not designed to cover or contain all duties or responsibilities required of the role. Duties and responsibilities may change or be added at any time, with or without notice.