Lead Food Safety & Quality Analytical Chemist

Marzetti Company; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

The Marzetti Company in Kentucky seeks a Food Safety and Quality Analytical Chemist to drive product quality, shelf-life optimization, and new product development through analytical science. You will collaborate with R&D, Quality, Operations, and manufacturing labs to develop methods, validate SOPs, and implement new technologies.

You will interpret data, support proficiency programs, contribute to continuous improvement, and lead analytical projects with cross-functional teams while adhering to

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Biochemistry, or related field with minimum 5 years of analytical lab or equivalent experience or Master’s degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Biochemistry, or related field with minimum 3 years relevant experience.
• Strong understanding of food chemistry.
• Demonstrated experience supporting the development, validation, implementation, or improvement of analytical methods.
• Demonstrated ability to investigate technical or laboratory problems and recommend solutions.
• Experience in analytical method validation.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced laboratory environment.
• Experience with analytical instruments used to measure, acid, salt, viscosity, moisture, color, texture, etc.
• Ability to interpret complex analytical data and communicate technical findings and recommendations.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, LIMS, or other lab data systems.
• Strong project management, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Strong skills in technical writing, data analysis, and laboratory investigations.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
• Ability to lead technical projects and implement programs involving multiple cross‑functional stakeholders.
• Willingness to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, or holidays as needed.
• Some infrequent travel in support of plants expected (<5%)

Responsibilities

• Support development and maintenance of analytical testing strategies for complex food safety, quality, R&D, product development, commercialization, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Coordinate, plan, and conduct chemical testing as a part of challenge studies and food safety and quality investigations in collaboration with relevant cross‑functional teams.
• Support Food Safety, Quality, and R&D through development and maintenance of the buffering capacity program, ensuring accurate and timely testing for formulation optimization.
• Recommend appropriate analytical approaches, methodologies, testing requirements, and instrumentation in collaboration with the Lab Manager and relevant stakeholders.
• Coordinate workload and conduct testing to support R&D and QA projects as necessary based on business need
• Acid and Salt titration, pH, water activity, viscosity, texture, color, moisture, fat, microscopy, and other tests
• Apply knowledge of food chemistry and analytical science to investigate complex product, process, and laboratory issues and support root cause analysis.
• Interpret analytical results, identify trends and deviations, and communicate technical findings and recommendations to manager and cross‑functional stakeholders.
• Serve as a technical resource to product developers and cross‑functional teams during complex research projects, development sprints, commercialization activities, and post‑commercialization issues or improvements.

Skills

Food chemistry

Analytical testing

Laboratory investigations

Data analysis

Microsoft Excel

Project management

Communication

Independent work

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Biochemistry, or related field

Master’s degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Biochemistry, or related field

Tools

LIMS

Analytical instrumentation

ISO/IEC 17025 experience

Job description

The Marzetti Company in Kentucky seeks a Food Safety and Quality Analytical Chemist to drive product quality, shelf-life optimization, and new product development through analytical science. You will collaborate with R&D, Quality, Operations, and manufacturing labs to develop methods, validate SOPs, and implement new technologies.

You will interpret data, support proficiency programs, contribute to continuous improvement, and lead analytical projects with cross-functional teams while adhering to