Food Scientist - Potato Products

Position Type : Regular - Full-Time

Position Location : Melbourne

Grade : Grade 04

Requisition ID : 35222

About the role.

This Food Scientist role is dedicated to the development of our potato products – chips, fries, hash browns, wedges, pretty much everything potato! As a global leader in frozen potato, this role will be both exciting and pivotal to the business.

• Lead product development activities to deliver projects from conception to commercial production.
• Turn consumer trends and insights into key product attributes, leveraging manufacturing capabilities within ANZ, the global McCain network and at co-manufacturers.
• Identify new opportunities for ingredient, recipe formulation and process improvements.
• Build product specifications within the product management system.
• Keep abreast of business priorities, issues, and those of the food industry and convey this information to project teams and ensure taken into consideration in consumer-led product design and development.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement bringing outside-in thinking into proactive concept development that accelerates ANZ innovation pipeline development.
• Build relationships internally within R&D (sensory, regulatory, nutrition, packaging) and McCain (quality, manufacturing, marketing), and external (suppliers, co-manufacturers).

About the team.

This role reports to the R&D Core Portfolio Manager, and can be based in either Melbourne or Ballarat with frequent travel between the two locations. Occasional travel to our other ANZ manufacturing sites is also required.

About you.

This exciting role would suit someone with a technical food science background, who enjoys going deep on the details of product characteristics.

Previous experience with frozen potato products is highly advantageous, as is knowledge of batters and coatings.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Food Science or related disciplines.
• 2-5 years of technical and professional R&D experience.
• Hands-on with bench development and factory trials.
• General knowledge of manufacturing processes and experience in this environment.
• Strong understanding of food safety and HACCP processes.
• Familiarity with relevant legal requirements and standards (e.g., FSANZ, Food Manufacturing Standards).
• Interest in trends, ingredients, and new food product introductions, with the ability to apply consumer research data to product development.
• Strong planning, organizing, and interpersonal skills.

About McCain.

At McCain, we’re feeding the world : from French fries to Pizzas, we contribute to the important role food plays in people's lives. That’s why we’re dedicated to ensuring our core values—Family, Authentic, Trusted, and Quality—shine through every day. As a privately owned family company with over 60 years of experience, a presence in more than 160 countries, and a global team of 22,000 people, our values and culture are at the heart of everything we do. We believe that we can work together, along with our business and community partners, to bring sustainable growth and positive change today, tomorrow, and for generations to come. Join us and see how you can MAKE IT at McCain!

Why join the McCain family.

• Your Life – we’re here to help you fulfil your potential, flourish, and thrive in work and life.
• Your Success – work alongside passionate individuals who are committed to supporting your career ambitions, drive, and success.
• Your Impact – we want you to make a meaningful, lasting impact, for you, for your colleagues, and for the business.

McCain is a place where you can grow from the ground up, so join us and see how you can MAKE IT at McCain.

Our principles, each with related practices, guide our actions across the organization. Together, they address how McCain interacts with our customers and employees, and how we work as individuals and collectively to find success. While each role adheres to the Leadership Principles, individual roles may focus more on a specific principle or principles.

We are customer obsessed. Customers are our starting point. By understanding their needs and leveraging data and consumer insights, we drive mutual success.

We think big and plan ahead. Through ambition, curiosity, and smart risks, we can accomplish goals, refine processes, and innovate to scale success.

We bring out the best in our people. We create safe spaces for our people so that trust and empowerment come naturally. Inclusion is about listening first, showing humility, and working together.

We act like owners. Together, we clear obstacles and do the work that makes us all successful and proud to be part of McCain.

The McCain experience.

We are McCain : this statement is about our power collectively and our importance individually—your impact is a significant part of the business. Our winning culture focuses on authenticity and trust so we can always bring out the best in our people. Here, you have the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive while being yourself. Join our team to see why we’re better together.

McCain Foods is an equal opportunity employer. We see value in ensuring we have a diverse, antiracist, inclusive, merit-based, and equitable workplace. As a global family-owned company we are proud to reflect the diverse communities around the world in which we live and work. We recognize that diversity drives our creativity, resilience, and success and makes our business stronger.

McCain is an accessible employer. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials or accessible meeting rooms), please let us know and we will work with you to meet your needs.

Your privacy is important to us. By submitting personal data or information to us, you agree this will be handled in accordance with the Global Employee Privacy Policy.

Job Family : Research & Development

Division : Global Research and Development