Food Technologist

CareersInFood.com; Vineland (NJ); On-site; USD 68,000 - 88,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation package

Comprehensive benefits: Medical,Dental

Vision and Life Insurance

401(K) including company match

Paid Time Off annually + Paid Holidays

Career Advancement opportunities andTu

Job summary

F&S Fresh Foods in Vineland, NJ, is seeking a Food Technologist to join our on-site team. You will support product development, process improvement, and commercialization of fresh, refrigerated, and value-added foods, reporting to the Director of Product Development.

You will own product development, coordinate plant trials, prepare production specs, and maintain technical documentation while collaborating with Operations, QA, Food Safety, and Purchasing to optimize quality, cost, and nutrition

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in food science, Food Technology, Food Engineering, Culinary Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, or a related field.
• Must have: 2 years of relevant technical or food-manufacturing experience, preferably in chilled food manufacturing within a fast-paced business
• Must have: knowledge of ingredients, formulations, food safety, product trials, sensory evaluation, or shelf-life testing
• Must have: strong analytical, troubleshooting, documentation, project-management, and communication skills
• Nice to have: HACCP, OSHA, First Aid/CPR, or Food Hygiene certification, plus knowledge of produce seasonality and manufacturing processes
• Nice to have: Bilingual English/Spanish speaking skills

Responsibilities

• Develop and improve products, create prototypes and formulas, translate customer concepts into scalable formulations, evaluate ingredients and packaging, conduct sensory testing, and improve quality, cost, nutrition, consistency, and shelf life
• Plan plant trials and initial production runs, scale benchtop formulas to commercial production, prepare manufacturing instructions and specifications, establish processing parameters, monitor results, troubleshoot issues, and transition new products into routine manufacturing
• Maintain formulas, trial records, product specifications, processing parameters, labeling information, allergen reviews, and other technical documentation
• Design shelf-life studies, evaluate sensory and microbiological results, coordinate outside testing, and recommend changes to formulations, processes, packaging, or storage conditions
• Partner with Operations, Quality Assurance, Food Safety, Procurement, Sales, customers, suppliers, and laboratories to improve products, manufacturing performance, and customer support

Skills

Analytical skills

Troubleshooting

Documentation

Project management

Communication

Bilingual English/Spanish

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science or related field

Job description

Headquartered in Vineland, NJ, F&S Fresh Foods is leading the way in fresh-cut fruit, vegetables, and meal solutions distribution. With the recent acquisition of five additional state-of-the-art facilities strategically located across the U.S., we now deliver to customers across the United States and Canada every single day!

For over 40 years, we’ve been redefining production and safety processes, building strong partnerships, and creating endless possibilities for our diverse customers from restaurants and supermarket prepared food operations to convenience store chains and beyond. At F&S, we are fueling families with nutrition, innovation, and convenience, turning meals into memorable moments. By combining cutting-edge technology, deep-rooted customer relationships, and operational excellence, we are shaping the future of fresh from farm to family.

We’re not just about food; we’re about people. Recognized as a Great Place to Work for three consecutive years, our team of 2,100 full-time employees drives our culture forward by living our values every day. If you’re ready to be part of a company that values innovation, excellence, and community impact, join us as we embrace our next exciting chapter of growth. Together, we’re planting the seeds of progress and nourishing a fresh, healthy future for everyone!

What We Offer

Competitive compensation package

Comprehensive benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance

401(K) including company match!

Paid Time Off annually + Paid Holidays

Career Advancement opportunities and Tuition Assistance

What’s the Role

The Food Technologist is a full-time, on-site role at F&S Fresh Foods in Vineland, New Jersey. Reporting to the Director of Product Development, the position supports product development, process improvement, and commercialization of fresh, refrigerated and value-added food products.

What You’ll Own

Product development: Develop and improve products, create prototypes and formulas, translate customer concepts into scalable formulations, evaluate ingredients and packaging, conduct sensory testing, and improve quality, cost, nutrition, consistency, and shelf life.

Commercialization: Plan plant trials and initial production runs, scale benchtop formulas to commercial production, prepare manufacturing instructions and specifications, establish processing parameters, monitor results, troubleshoot issues, and transition new products into routine manufacturing.

Technical documentation: Maintain formulas, trial records, product specifications, processing parameters, labeling information, allergen reviews, and other technical documentation.

Shelf-life testing: Design studies, evaluate sensory and microbiological results, coordinate outside testing, and recommend changes to formulations, processes, packaging, or storage conditions.

Cross-functional collaboration: Partner with Operations, Quality Assurance, Food Safety, Procurement, Sales, customers, suppliers, and laboratories to improve products, manufacturing performance, and customer support.

Requirements

What You Bring

Preferred: Bachelor’s degree in food science, Food Technology, Food Engineering, Culinary Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, or a related field.

Must have: 2 years of relevant technical or food-manufacturing experience, preferably in chilled food manufacturing within a fast-paced business

Must have: knowledge of ingredients, formulations, food safety, product trials, sensory evaluation, or shelf-life testing

Must have: strong analytical, troubleshooting, documentation, project-management, and communication skills

Nice to have: HACCP, OSHA, First Aid/CPR, or Food Hygiene certification, plus knowledge of produce seasonality and manufacturing processes

Nice to have: Bilingual English/Spanish speaking skills

Physical Demands: This role primarily operates across office, laboratory, kitchen, refrigerated production, warehouse, and manufacturing settings. The role requires extended standing and walking, lifting up to 40 pounds, wearing required protective equipment, and occasionally working early mornings, evenings, or weekends. Some travel may also be required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Environment: Cold, damp working environment (approximately 37F) while at manufacturing facilities, with physical hazards from working in and around moving machinery.

Salary Description

$68,000 to $88,000

Notice of AI Use in Job Application Review

As part of our commitment in creating a fair, efficient, and consistent hiring process we may use artificial intelligence (AI) to help our recruiting teams organize, summarize, and analyze information provided by candidates, including resumes, application responses, and other materials submitted during the application process.AI may be used to identify patterns, highlight relevant skills, and experience, and assist in comparing a candidate’s qualifications with the requirement of a specific role. These tools are to improve efficiency and consistency while supporting more informed hiring decisions, which will ultimately be made by the hiring team.