Food Scientist

Balchem Corporation; City of Hudson (NY); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food and beverage company in Hudson is looking for a Food Scientist to develop and scale new products. This role involves leading product development projects, conducting testing, and collaborating with various teams. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s in Food Science with 4+ years of experience or a Master’s degree with 2+ years relevant. Proficiency in Microsoft Office and strong problem-solving skills are essential. The position offers a competitive salary and benefits package.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience in new product development or Master's degree with 2+ years of relevant experience.
• Strong understanding of functional and sensory evaluation methods.
• Ability to navigate a complex, fast-paced business environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of new products in the food and beverage space.
• Conduct product testing and analyze resulting data.
• Collaborate with various teams to achieve business objectives.

Skills

Product formulation

Data analysis

Communication skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Food Science

Master's Degree in related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Product formulation tools

Job description

POSITION SUMMARY

The Food Scientist position will leverage scientific training and industrial experience to develop and scale-up new products for the food and beverage market. This position is expected to tackle projects with meaningful technical complexity, ensuring diligence in the development, scale‑up, and commercialization of innovative products that deliver on business goals.

The position requires a strong ability to work cross‑functionally to set goals and timetables, drive innovation, and support commercialization efforts. Additionally, this individual will support execution of local and global strategies and business initiatives while providing technical expertise to internal and external customers.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Lead and champion a culture of safety across all activities
• Develop new products in the food and beverage space. This includes sourcing of ingredients and documents, as well as evaluating and mitigating various risks (ie costing, lead times, minimum order quantities, etc).
• Drive the conceptualization, development, and commercialization of new products
• Support cross functional internal initiatives including, but not limited to, cost reduction initiatives, production efficiencies, and quality improvements
• Optimize and validate functional performance and sensory properties of various food products.
• Conduct product testing, including sensory analysis and analytical testing, as well as review and analyze resulting data.
• Help manage and maintain inventory of ingredients and supplies which may include obtaining materials from Balchem’s warehouse.
• Support the commercial team by translating unmet consumer needs into actionable scientific and technological insights.
• Execute experiments to create technical data supporting the business's commercial strategy.
• Exhibit conceptual, creative and analytic problem solving – the ability to break down complex issues and simplify by focusing on what matters.
• Provide technical support to customers, sales teams, and internal departments on products and technologies with guidance from senior members of the team.
• Collaborate with Marketing, Sales, Operations, Quality, Regulatory, and relevant stakeholders to achieve cross‑functional business objectives.
• Deliver written and oral reports on project status, experimental results, and technical recommendations.
• Take an independent and disciplined approach to organizing work activity, prioritizing tasks, and analysis; seek out additional projects and activities to drive the business forward
• Ensure the integrity of the R&D laboratory through accurate record‑keeping, test design, and adherence to sanitary practices.
• Utilize various software systems including Microsoft Office as well as other software systems.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s Degree in Food Science or a related scientific field with 4+ years of experience in new product development, or a Master’s degree with 2+ years of relevant experience.
• Proven track record in product formulation, specification creation, commercialization, and new technology development while demonstrating a history of delivering winning results.
• Strong understanding of functional and sensory evaluation methods.
• Advanced problem solving, data analysis, and evaluation skills.
• Ability to learn new categories quickly, navigate in a complex, fast‑paced business environment and manage and prioritize multiple projects while delivering high‑quality results.
• Commitment to continuous learning and staying current with industry trends and innovations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with demonstrated ability to effectively collaborate with cross‑functional teams (Marketing, Operations and Manufacturing, Quality and Regulatory) and Senior Management.
• Proficiency with computer software, including MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook) and product formulation tools.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Work involves the use of typical food science lab equipment, computers, and instrumentation.
• Occasionally, must be able to work on their feet for extended periods in the lab, pilot, and manufacturing plant.
• May be required to lift and carry large boxes or bags, and the work environment may occasionally be noisy, wet, slippery, and subject to temperature variations.
• Some business travel by automobile, bus, train, and/or plane is required.

Balchem is committed to a workplace culture that values and promotes diversity, inclusion, equal employment opportunities, and a work environment free of harassment and hostility.

Balchem Corporation, and its subsidiaries, offers a competitive salary and benefits package and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.