Food Scientist

We are looking for a Food Scientist to join our Product Development Team at Elmira Pet!

Reporting to the Product Development and Nutrition Manager, the Food Scientist is responsible for monitoring and evaluating ingredients as it relates to food science and nutrition to continually improve product quality and safety. They will work to ensure extruded finished products are up to nutrient, functional, and food safety standards. This position will provide food science and nutrition support and be involved in cross-departmental collaboration on multiple projects to achieve internal and external objectives.

Come join a great team at a locally owned, Canadian company!

Who we are:

Elmira Pet Products is Canada’s largest private label dry pet food manufacturer, offering unique solutions that drive growth for our global partners. With over 40 years of experience, we produce a comprehensive range of products, including therapeutic diets, holistic options, premium selections, mid-range, and budget-friendly formulations.

Our diverse customer base includes well-known brands in mass merchandise, grocery, and pet specialty channels. Additionally, our expertise allows us to craft unique diets tailored to niche markets. By joining Elmira Pet Products, you become part of a dynamic team dedicated to excellence and innovation in pet nutrition.

Visit our website at: http://www.elmirapet.com

Connecting Innovation, Quality, and Value with Pet Food.

What we offer:

We offer a competitive salary, a great benefits package, RRSP matching program, and bonus/incentives program.

At our company, we believe in fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment where every team member feels valued and empowered.

We have company events, such as BBQ’s and Christmas Party, giveaways, activities, and fantastic pet food product discounts – awesome for people who have pets!

What you'll do:

• Provide scientific knowledge and technical expertise on ingredients as it relates to:

Food science and chemistry

Ingredient functionality

Ingredient processing interactions

Analytical and test procedures

Food safety

• Manage internal ingredient approval processes including document collection, internal ingredient specification, testing of new ingredients and communication with suppliers.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with suppliers (i.e., ingredients, packaging), working directly with the Procurement team on technical inquiries, challenges, etc.
• Execute plant trials and new product commissions, and manage product testing (i.e., nutritional analyses, feeding studies, shelf-life studies, etc.).
• Support Product Development team with formulation of complete and balanced pet food recipes, inclusive of new product development and facilitating aspects of the product development cycle.
• Monitor and maintain physical and chemical quality of incoming ingredients.
• Work with Operations, Quality, and Engineering on troubleshooting extrusion challenges and building upon existing capabilities.
• Support packaging initiatives by ensuring packaging preserves the safety (i.e., barrier properties, shelf-life testing) and quality of food while aligning with regulatory, consumer and sustainability goals.
• Collaborate with Sales and Marketing team to drive innovation.
• Keep up to date with scientific literature as it relates to ingredients and their role in the pet food industry.
• Other duties as assigned.

What you'll have:

• Master’s Degree in Food Science, Animal Science, Nutrition, or related field.
• 2-5 years of work experience in food science or related field (ideally in extrusion processes).
• Detail-oriented with excellent project management skills.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively across all levels and functions internally and with third parties.
• Ability to communicate complex information effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills to work effectively with cross-functional teams, clients, and suppliers.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel).

Salary Range: Salary will be based on the successful candidate’s skills, qualifications, and experience.

Applications will be considered as they are received, so we encourage candidates to apply early! We thank all applicants for considering Elmira Pet Products as their next career opportunity! Deadline to apply is May 9, 2025.

We are an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005), Elmira Pet Products will provide accommodations throughout the recruitment, selection and/or assessment process to applicants with disabilities. If you require disability – related accommodations, please inform the Human Resources (HR) staff. All personal information is collected under the authority of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.