Food Technologist

Pastificio Rana; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 63,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Pastificio Rana in Bartlett, Illinois, is seeking a Food Technologist to lead innovative product development and ensure quality across the lifecycle. You will collaborate with marketing, regulatory, procurement, and finance to drive research projects and scale new products from concept to launch.

A Master’s in Food Science and Technology and 5+ years in the food industry are required, with willingness to relocate to Illinois.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Food Science and Technology, Industrial Biotechnology, Food Engineering, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of experience in the food industry, with a focus on R&D and/or Production.
• Spanish will be a plus.
• Willingness to relocate permanently to our production facilities in Illinois, USA.

Responsibilities

• Actively collaborate with the Innovation Marketing team to conceive and develop new products and product categories, based on thorough market analysis, trends, and customer needs.
• Manage and develop research projects, including identification, evaluation, and implementation of new technologies and processes.
• Work closely with Regulatory Affairs, Procurement, and Finance to ensure regulatory compliance and develop P&L statements for new products.

Skills

Food science knowledge

R&D experience

Product development

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Master's degree in Food Science and Technology or related field

Job description

Rana is an international Company known and present in over 65 countries, with a turnover close to € 1.3 billion.

Founded by Mr. Giovanni Rana in 1962, the Company has been led for over 35 years by Gian Luca Rana, CEO and pioneer of the internationalization project that has led the Group to become a leader worldwide in the production and marketing of fresh filled and unfilled pasta, gnocchi, sauces and ready meals. Innovation is one of the most extraordinary strengths of the Rana Group, both in the technological field (with the registration of dozen of product and process patents), and in communication.

This generates a creative energy capable of constantly renewing a traditional segment such as fresh filled pasta and at the same time giving life to new categories that expand the fresh market.Rana focuses its investments in the creation of jobs (our workforce doubled in the last five years), in research and development, in quality and taste through the selection of the best raw materials, with the aim of offering Consumers delicious products made of the highest quality ingredients.

Today, Rana has 7 factories (5 in Italy and 2 in the US) and is a large family of 3,500 People. The engines of our continued success will keep being innovation, internationalization, passion and constant search for excellence in everything we do. As a family-owned Company, we are united by strong Values and the aspiration of building a better future for the next generations. Ethics and sustainability are the cornerstones of our sixty-two years of history, which have made our business healthy and constantly growing.

Key Responsibilities

• Actively collaborate with the Innovation Marketing team to conceive and develop new products and product categories, based on thorough market analysis, the identification of current and future trends, and specific customer needs.
• Manage and develop research projects, including the identification, evaluation, and implementation of new technologies, methodologies, and innovative production processes.
• Work closely with various cross-functional teams, including Regulatory Affairs to ensure product regulatory compliance, Procurement to manage raw materials and the supply chain, and the Finance Division to develop the Profit & Loss (P&L) statements for new products.

This cross-functional collaboration will provide the Food Technologist with a comprehensive understanding of the entire product lifecycle and the opportunity to play a key role within our organization, actively contributing to the continued growth and success of the Rana Group.

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree in Food Science and Technology, Industrial Biotechnology, Food Engineering, or a related field;
• At least 5 years of experience in the food industry, with a particular focus on Research & Development and/or Production;
• Spanish will be a plus;
• Willingness to relocate permanently to our production facilities in Illinois, USA.

Soft Skills

• Positive attitude, creativity, and attention to detail;
• Proven ability to work effectively in a dynamic and multicultural environment;
• Excellent interpersonal skills, flexibility, and strong organizational abilities.

Location

Bartlett, Illinois (Chicago area), USA

What We Offer

The Rana Group offers a high-level professional environment characterized by a strong focus on innovation and people development, with significant opportunities for career growth for individuals who demonstrate passion, dedication, and a strong desire to contribute to the company's success.

The position offers a starting annual gross salary of $105,000.

The final position level and compensation package will be determined based on the candidate's professional experience, skills, and qualifications.