Food Scientist

Butterball; Garner (NC); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Butterball is looking for an R&D Product Development Manager to guide product development and process improvement in Garner, NC. The role involves managing projects from conception to commercialization and providing technical support across sales, marketing, and operations.

The ideal candidate holds a relevant bachelor’s degree and has at least 3 years of experience in R&D project management. Strong communication and food technology knowledge are key for this role.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in food science or a related field is required.
• 3+ years of relevant experience is needed.
• Experience managing research and development projects is essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead the R&D activities of assigned projects to meet timelines.
• Execute product development from conception to commercialization.
• Provide technical support to operations, marketing, and sales teams.

Skills

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Time-management skills

Human relations skills

Food technology knowledge

Ingredient technology knowledge

Problem-solving

Creative thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in food science or related field

Tools

MS Office Suite

Job description

Job Overview

Guides less complex product development and process improvement efforts in Renovation R&D by organizing, managing, and coordinating key projects from conception to commercialization. Provides technical support to the operations, sales, and marketing teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Organizes and owns the R&D activities of assigned projects to ensure work is properly prioritized and completed in a timely manner to deliver results.
• Executes new products from conception to commercialization by working with sales, marketing, operation, purchasing and quality assurance.
• Maintains external and marketplace awareness related to new concepts, products, ingredients, and technologies.
• Engages team members to communicate and guide technical support for development of new products and technologies.
• Identifies and recommends new raw materials, ingredients, materials, and processes that improve products and reduce cost.
• Identifies, tests, and implements new processes and product formulas that lead to new products, cost savings and quality improvements.
• Provides technical support to operations to ensure product excellence and cost efficiency.
• Provides technical support to the Marketing and Sales teams to service existing customers and help gain new ones.
• Supports continuous improvement opportunities and solutions directed at improving profitability, product quality, food safety and capital avoidance.
• Seeks to enhance technical skills through project experience, seminars, professional conferences, and training programs.

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum bachelor’s degree in food science/related field or equivalent.
• 3+ years of relevant experience or the knowledge, skills, and abilities to succeed in the role.
• Experience managing research and development projects.

Essential Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Solid oral and written communication, analytical, time-management, and human relation skills.
• Firm knowledge in food technology, ingredient technology, and food processing.
• Demonstrated ability to use new technology to significantly improve profitability, product quality, food safety and manufacturing complexity issues.
• Firm initiation skills with the ability to yield results.
• Technical/functional depth and proficiency in MS office suite.
• Experience with new product launches, problem-solving, and creative thinking.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Poultry science / poultry processing experience.

Physical Demands

• May be regularly required to stand, sit, talk, hear, reach, stoop, kneel, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer, telephone, keyboard, and occasionally lift up to 50 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, color vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Working Conditions

• Work performed in a variety of conditions including remote work, a climate-controlled office environment, and in a manufacturing plant environment with varying conditions (cold, wet, warm, chemicals).
• Employee must wear personal protective equipment while in the manufacturing environment.
• Remote work requires a dedicated workspace with reliable internet (recommended minimum 20 mb download, 5 mb upload).
• Noise level in manufacturing environment may exceed 85 dBA requiring hearing protection.
• Required to travel up to 50% of the time and attend manufacturing facility at least 2 days per week, possibly more pending project needs.

Equal Opportunity Employment

We embrace equal opportunity employment. Butterball is committed to the fair and impartial treatment of all employees and applicants for employment without regard to gender, age, race, religion, color, national origin, physical or mental disability, military/veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, marital status, parental status, pregnancy, or any other status protected by law.

Safety Sensitive Position

This position is deemed Safety Sensitive for purposes of Butterball’s Drug/Alcohol Screening & Testing Policy. Details will be provided to individuals who receive a conditional job offer, or upon request.