Dairy R&D Scientist: Product & Process Innovator

Ornua Co-operative Limited; Wisconsin; Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Ornua Co-operative Limited is seeking an R&D Scientist to lead product development and optimization of dairy ingredients and cheese solutions. You will collaborate with R&D/Innovation, Sales, Procurement, Finance, and Quality Assurance to drive commercialization from concept through production.

The role requires a strong background in cheese science, project leadership, and mentoring of Technologists and Technicians, with travel up to 25% to other locations and customer sites.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Food, Dairy, or related scientific field with at least 5 years of industrial experience or MS/PhD with relevant experience.
• Experience developing standardized/non-standardized processed cheese or imitation cheese.
• Experience working in application lab, pilot plant systems and with laboratory instrumentation.
• Experience working in Food industry - B2B product development, formulation, and commercialization of cheese/dairy/food products.
• Familiarity with FDA CFR cheese standards, dairy labeling claims.
• Lean Six Sigma experience/certification preferred.
• Culinary experience designing custom applications with cheese ingredients is a plus.
• Working knowledge of sensory science and texture analysis techniques.

Responsibilities

• Lead new product development and its commercialization with cross-functional teams.
• Supervise Technologists and Technicians.
• Drive optimization projects focusing on ROI and efficiency.
• Mentor and upskill others on technical leadership and project management.
• Coordinate pilot plant experiments from concept to production.

Skills

Technical leadership

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Sensory analysis

Data analysis

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Food, Dairy, or related field

MS/PhD in related field

Tools

Laboratory instruments

Pilot plant systems

Job description

Ornua Co-operative Limited is seeking an R&D Scientist to lead product development and optimization of dairy ingredients and cheese solutions. You will collaborate with R&D/Innovation, Sales, Procurement, Finance, and Quality Assurance to drive commercialization from concept through production.

The role requires a strong background in cheese science, project leadership, and mentoring of Technologists and Technicians, with travel up to 25% to other locations and customer sites.