Associate Food Scientist

Flowers Bakeries; Thomasville (GA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health benefits

401(k) Retirement plan

Paid vacation and holidays

Job summary

Flowers Foods, Inc. is seeking an Associate Food Scientist to formulate new products and conduct consumer testing. This role involves working cross-functionally with various departments to ensure product quality and compliance.

Ideal candidates should have a Bachelor's degree in food science and relevant experience in product development. In this position, you will assist with formulation development for trials, conduct sensory evaluations, and travel 30+% of the time for trials and meetings.

Qualifications

• 0 - 3 years' relevant progressive experience in product development.
• Exposure through internship or entry-level role in baked goods.
• Demonstrated proficiency with computers and digital tools.

Responsibilities

• Formulate new products and conduct plant trials.
• Create experimental plans and execute experiments.
• Conduct sensory evaluations to meet consumer needs.
• Document and report on trial results and specifications.
• Identify ideas to support new product concepts.
• Maintain professional relationships with outside suppliers.
• Conduct shelf life studies.
• Ensure compliance with safety standards and regulations.

Skills

Formulation development

Consumer testing

Data analysis

Sensory evaluation

Creative idea generation

Education

Bachelor's degree in food science

Tools

Software applications

Job description

FRESH. FORWARD. FLOWERS.

Flowers Foods, Inc. (NYSE:FLO) is not just about baking; it's about crafting moments of joy with every delicious bite. With 2024 sales of $5.1 billion, and as one of the leading producers of packaged bakery goods in the United States, Flowers Foods brings passion to the table. From the wholesome goodness of Nature's Own and Wonder to the bold and artisanal flavors of Dave's Killer Bread, the rustic goodness of Canyon Bakehouse, and the sweet delights of Tastykake, each product is a celebration of taste and quality. Beyond the oven, Flowers Foods fosters a culture that values and reflectsHonesty & Integrity, Respect & Inclusion, Sustainability, Passion, and Humility.With a commitment to innovation and a recipe for success, Flowers Foods is more than a bakery - it's a delightful journey into the heart of flavor and community.

Full-time employees are offered the following benefits:

• Comprehensive health and medical benefits
• 401(k) Retirement savings plan
• Professional growth and leadership training
• Paid vacation, holidays, and parental leave

Benefits may vary depending on your work location.

Bringing Home the Dough

The Associate Food Scientist is responsible for formulating new products, reducing costs on existing products, conducting plant trials, and performing consumer testing. This position requires an understanding of the fundamentals of food science, including ingredient interactions, processing, stability, and basic regulations related to product labeling. In addition, this position requires an understanding of how plant equipment and processes effect formulations and product specifications when moving from the lab to the plant. The positionworks cross-functionally with Quality, Marketing, Operations, Procurement, Regulatory, and Finance to drive value for the Flowers brands.

The Associate Food Scientist is a self-driven and motivated professional who is both adaptable and flexible in a fast-paced environment and who possesses the ability to successfully work alone and as part of a team. The ideal candidate exhibits both maturity and a high degree of curiosity. This position requires demonstration of competency for all on-the-job activities that may have a direct or indirect effect on product safety, legality and/or quality.

Rising to the Challenge: Position Responsibilities

• Assists with formulation development for bench trials, plant trials, and execution to achieve targeted product attributes.
• Creates experimental plans. Executes experiments, collect data, and make recommendations based on data.
• Conducts sensory evaluations to establish product designs that meet consumer needs.
• Documents, interprets, and reports on trial results, product and process specifications, and project status to all stakeholders in a timely manner.
• Identifies and generates creative ideas to support new product concepts as well as product and process improvements.
• Maintains professional relationships and partner with outside suppliers to determine product fit for R&D objectives.
• Maintains/improves knowledge of ingredient functionality to support R&D and Process Improvement projects.
• Conducts shelf life studies.
• Ensures compliance with corporate/plant safety standards and with applicable regulatory requirements.
• Travels approximately 30+% of the time but as required for trials, marketing support, and meetings.
• Practices and complies with all Company policies and procedures (EEO, Harassment, Safety, Sarbanes Oxley, etc.).
• Performs other duties which are deemed by management to be an integral part of the job, including but not limited to fulfillment of work schedules, adherence to attendance policies, and other applicable operating rules, policies and procedures

Knead to Know: Preferred Qualifications

• 0 - 3 years' relevant progressive experience, to include:
• Exposure through internship or entry level role in product development and commercialization experience of baked goods.
• Experience in bread and other bakery items including cookies, cakes, and fried desserts preferred.
• Demonstrated proficiency with computers, software applications, and digital tools
• Ability to learn new software and technology quickly

Additional Ingredients: Essential Job Requirements

Bachelor's degree in food science, baking science or Culinology.

Salary Range- 55000 -60000

We offer a competitive salary up to $60k and an excellent total rewards package.

EEO Statement

Flowers is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Flowers encourages all qualified candidates to apply, regardless of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, veteran status, disability status, or people of any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. The job description above outlines the general nature and level of work expected from employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications for this position. Equivalent combination of education, experience, and skills may supplement above minimum job requirements.