Food Scientist

CareersInFood.com; Ayer (MA); On-site; USD 105,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with Company Contributions

Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage

Paid Time Off and Company Holidays

Career Growth and Development

Wellness Programs

Job summary

A global nutrition company located in Ayer, MA, is seeking a Product Development Specialist. This role involves supporting the medical nutrition business by developing and revising product formulations while ensuring compliance with nutritional requirements. Qualified candidates should possess at least a bachelor's degree in food science or nutrition and five or more years of relevant experience in product development. The position offers a competitive salary between $105,000 and $130,000 annually, along with a 12.5% bonus potential and comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• Minimum bachelor’s in food science, nutrition, or related field; Master’s degree preferred.
• 5+ years in product development for nutritional products.
• Experience in food/beverage formulation and manufacture.

Responsibilities

• Co-create and execute medical formula products against ACI’s strategic R&D roadmap.
• Support product development and clinical development with scientific insight.
• Participate in conferences to present clinical evidence.

Skills

Strong analytical skills

Excellent communication skills

Ability to work in a cross-functional team

Leadership capability

Education

Bachelor’s in food science or nutrition

Master’s degree

PhD or PharmD

Tools

Nutritional modeling software

FDA regulations familiarity

Job description

Why Join Us

Our people are the key ingredient to our success. We offer a collaborative, innovative environment where you can grow your career and make an impact on global food and health solutions.

Benefits

We provide a comprehensive and competitive total rewards package, including:

• Competitive Pay and Annual Bonus Opportunity
• 401(k) with Company Contributions
• Medical, Dental, and Vision — Effective Day 1
• Paid Time Off, Company Holidays, and Floating Holidays
• Wellness Programs and Yearly Wellness Reimbursement
• Company-Paid Life and Disability Insurance
• Career Growth and Development within a Global Organization
• Company-Provided Mental Health and Caregiving support

Overview

The Product Development Team supports the medical nutrition business by developing new and revising existing product formulations to meet target characteristics that will deliver positive patient outcomes through therapeutic nutrition. Strong collaboration with the Directors of Medical Nutrition, Marketing, and Sales will be required to ensure desired nutritional levels are achieved throughout the product shelf-life, patient insights on flavor, texture, and palatability are incorporated. In this role, you will contribute to the ideation and exploration for uses of new to ACI ingredients and new to ACI business ventures in additional disease-states reliant on specialized medical nutrition. This position sits in our Corporate Office located in Ayer, MA.

Qualifications

EDUCATION, CERTIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum bachelor’s in food science, nutrition, or related field; Master’s degree preferred. PhD, PharmD a plus.
• 5+ years of experience in product development, with ability to take concepts from bench top to commercialization for nutritional beverages and / or nutritional powder blends from concept to commercialization.
• 5+ years in basic and applied research and development preferably in small/mid-sized nutrition, food and/or biotech company. Experience with food/beverage formulation and manufacture of nutritional products that meet stability, sensory and nutritional requirements. Direct experience with aseptic processing / Tetra Pak® a plus.
• Expert scientific knowledge in food science with emphasis on product development involving interaction amongst ingredients and impact of process techniques on use of micro-nutrients.
• Experience with nutritional modeling software and familiarity with FDA regulations preferred, exposure to EU regulations a plus.
• Able to design and monitor product shelf-life procedures both regular and accelerated for nutritional products.
• Strong translational science background with experience in converting basic nutrition-science insights into consumable products.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Build relationships with vendors to source ingredients to meet product specifications.
• Overall understanding of how business units interact to facilitate successful product development and commercialization.
• Ability to define new product needs in terms of process needs and product characteristics including organoleptic needs / claims
• Demonstrated Leadership capability with a focus on innovation to drive product development proactively and passionately.
• Exhibit the understanding of use of standard operation procedures related to product development, process development and product shelf-life determination.
• Well versed with food safety requirements and regulations.
• An understanding of human nutrition and ability to review primary scientific literature.
• A strong ability to communicate basic science and technical challenges to non-technical audiences.
• A strong understanding of ingredient interactions in a food/beverage matrix throughout processing and shelf life.
• Ability to design shelf-life evaluation matrices considering product composition, process impact and other critical factors when designing new products in medical nutrition arena.
• An understanding of macro and micro-nutrient analytical procedures and their principles.
• Ability to work in a fast paced, cross functional team environment.
• Excellent analytical skills, strong attention to details, good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent organizational skills, the ability to balance multiple projects, set priorities, and drive results.

Working Conditions / Physical Requirements

WORKING CONDITIONS:

This position works in a food manufacturing environment and requires the ability to adhere to all GMP, Food Safety, workplace safety and security policies including wearing required personal protective equipment, as well hair net, beard net, etc. as required

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Position requires the ability to occasionally lift up to 50 pounds, stand, walk, bend, reach, push, and pull.

Ability to use a computer, keyboard, telephone, and other office equipment.

Ability to wear all required PPE.

Responsibilities

• Utilize your exemplary food science and ingredient know-how to co-create and execute medical formula products against ACI’s strategic R&D roadmap to support the overall corporate strategy while meeting the internal quality expectations.
• Support the Leadership and Management teams with scientific support in the areas of product development, clinical development, product manufacturing and new ingredient compound / product initiatives.
• Research and help develop clinical evidence supporting existing and new products and ingredient compounds for use in commercial activities.
• Participate in conferences, clinician meetings and other forums to present ACI’s clinical evidence.
• Ensure existing and new products, processes or ingredient compounds have strong Intellectual Property protection thus providing ACI a sustained competitive advantage.
• Other duties as assigned.

Salary Range

$105,000 - $130,000 Annual with potential 12.5% Bonus