Dairy R&D Scientist — Product Innovation and Leadership

Ornua Co-operative Limited; Hilbert (WI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Ornua Co-operative Limited in Wisconsin seeks an experienced R&D Scientist to drive product development from concept to commercialization. You will lead cross-functional projects with R&D/Innovation, Sales, Procurement, Finance, and QA to optimize functionality and ROI.

You will supervise Technologists and Technicians, mentor teammates, and coordinate pilot plant experiments, sensory analyses, and shelf-life studies to ensure quality and performance of dairy ingredients and cheese products.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Food, Dairy, or related field with 5+ years of industrial experience, or MS/PhD with 3+ years.
• Experience in developing standardized/non-standardized processed cheese or imitation cheese.
• Experience with lab, pilot plant systems and laboratory instrumentation.
• Experience in B2B food product development and commercialization of cheese/dairy products.
• Familiarity with CFR cheese standards and labeling claims.
• Experience with starch systems, protein matrices, and plant-based cheese.
• Lean Six Sigma experience/certification preferred.
• Knowledge of sensory science and texture analysis techniques.

Responsibilities

• Provides strong technical leadership on new product development and commercialization.
• Supervises and coaches Technologists and Technicians.
• Conducts optimization projects focusing on ROI and efficiency.
• Mentors and upskills others on technical leadership and project management.
• Conducts pilot and production plant experiments to test new products and processes.
• Participates in ongoing sensory analyses and shelf-life studies.
• Establishes control limits for production items and manages formulation changes.
• All other responsibilities as assigned.

Skills

Self-motivated

Interpersonal skills

Transfer knowledge to operations

Analytical skills

Organizational skills

Reporting & presentations

Team player

Time management

Travel 25% willingness

Sensory analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Food/Dairy

MS/PhD in related field

Job description

Ornua Co-operative Limited in Wisconsin seeks an experienced R&D Scientist to drive product development from concept to commercialization. You will lead cross-functional projects with R&D/Innovation, Sales, Procurement, Finance, and QA to optimize functionality and ROI.

You will supervise Technologists and Technicians, mentor teammates, and coordinate pilot plant experiments, sensory analyses, and shelf-life studies to ensure quality and performance of dairy ingredients and cheese products.