Meat Scientist - Essentia

LGI foundation; Ankeny (IA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

LGI foundation in Ankeny, Iowa, seeks a Meat Applications Scientist to coordinate and execute applications research for protein-based ingredients used in meat and pet food applications. You will provide technical expertise to sales, marketing, customers and distributors and deliver technical education for internal and external audiences.

This role requires a BS in Food Science or related field, 3–5 years in meat science, and strong communication and teaching skills.

Qualifications

• BS in Food Science or related field required; MS in meat science preferred.
• 3–5 years of experience in meat science/meat processing required; pet food experience preferred.
• Ability to communicate technical information clearly to internal and external audiences.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate Essentia Meat Lab activities, trials, and project execution.
• Communicate technical information clearly to customers and internal teams.
• Develop and deliver presentations on meat processing and conduct lectures at industry courses.
• Train Essentia distributors on ingredient functionality and applications.
• Troubleshoot product or application issues and recommend solutions.
• Support customers with on-site training and field troubleshooting.
• Collaborate with R&D to guide new product development and provide direction.
• Provide technical guidance to management, sales, and cross-functional teams.
• Assist QA with sample screening and conduct sensory testing for finished applications.
• Maintain lab equipment and update CRM with customer interactions and activities.
• Travel domestically and internationally up to 25%.

Skills

Communication

Presentation

Training

Troubleshooting

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Clear technical writing

Education

BS in Food Science or related field

MS in meat science preferred

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

The Meat Applications Scientist coordinates and executes applications research focused on current and newly developed protein-based ingredients used in meat and pet food applications. This role provides technical expertise to sales, marketing, customers, and distributors and provides technical education and training for internal and external audiences.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

Education: BS in Food Science or related field required, MS in meat science preferred. Experience: 3 to 5 years of experience in meat science / meat processing required. Experience in pet food preferred.

JOB DUTIES

• Coordinate Essentia Meat Lab activities, trials, and project execution.
• Communicate technical information clearly and effectively to both internal and external customers.
• Develop and deliver presentations on meat processing; conduct lectures at industry short courses.
• Train Essentia distributors on ingredient functionality, applications, and meat processing- both onsite and in the field.
• Troubleshoot product or application technical issues; research and recommend solutions or alternatives.
• Support customers with on-site training and troubleshooting at customer facilities.
• Collaborate with R&D to provide direction and feedback throughout the new product development process.
• Provide technical guidance to management, sales and cross-functional departments on product performance.
• Assist QA with sample screening to ensure consistent product quality.
• Conduct formal and informal sensory testing to provide objective measurements of performance characteristics in finished applications.
• Provide technical writing guidance to Marketing for press releases, ads, brochures, presentations, and website content.
• Remain current on industry trends and technologies through professional organizations and trade publications.
• Participate in cross-functional teams requiring Applications support.
• Ensure proper maintenance and performance of meat lab equipment and environment.
• Manage application projects, including definition of objectives, prioritization, resource coordination, tracking, and communication of results.
• Maintain a library of application reviews and project summaries.
• Update customer interactions and activities within the CRM system.
• Complete administrative documents (e.g., expense reports, monthly reports) accurately and on time.
• Ability to travel both domestically and internationally (up to 25%).
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Applications and Product Development.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Strong technical knowledge of protein-based food ingredients and analytical methods.
• Knowledge of research and development principles and the ability to design, conduct and analyze experiments.
• Ability to communicate technical and commercial product information to customers, sales, and distributors.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with management, R&D, sales, marketing, and external partners.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality regarding R&D projects, customer information, financial data and proprietary formulations.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously.
• Ability to troubleshoot customer application challenges and provide technical solutions.
• Broad knowledge of meat and food science and the ability to apply those technologies in the research and development of meat and pet food applications.
• Proficiency in operating and maintaining lab, meat lab, and pilot plant equipment.
• Knowledge of experimental design and statistical analysis.
• Ability to comply with work related deadlines.
• Ability to communicate and interact in a professional manner which upholds the Essentia Values.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, AI platforms, etc.
• Ability to travel in varying weather conditions and work extended hours as necessary.
• Ability to assist with special and ongoing projects as assigned.

BASIC PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Approximate: 8-Hour Day (may be longer during peak season) Key: Occasional = 0% - 33% Frequent = 34% - 66% Continuous = 67% - 100% N/A = Not Applicable Standing - Frequent Sitting - Occasional Walking - Occasional Bending/Kneeling/Crouching/Stooping - Occasional Reaching Above Shoulder - Occasional Climbing (stairs, ladders, etc.) - Occasional Working on Heights: Unprotected Heights - NA Protected Heights - NA Lifting Weights from 0 to 50 pounds - Occasional Push/Pull/Maneuver Equipment/Products/Materials Weighing from 0 to 50 pounds - Occasional Being Around and/or Operating Moving Machinery/Equipment - Occasional Operating a Vehicle (as a part of your job) - NA Read/Monitor Gauges on Various Equipment/Machinery - Occasional Hand Movements: Recording Data - Occasional Operating Office Equipment - Occasional Operating Computer - Frequent Simple Grasping (right and left) - NA Firm Grasping (right and left) - NA Fine Manipulating (right and left) - NA Foot Movements to Operate Foot Controls - NA Good Vision, Corrected to Normal; or Ability to Access Required Information and to Perform Job Duties - Yes Color Definition - Yes Good Hearing, Corrected to Normal; or Ability to Communicate and/or Understand Required Information and to Perform Job Duties - Yes Ability to be Mobile throughout Required Work Areas - Yes Office - Frequent Multiple Locations - Frequent Plant - Occasional Equipment/Maintenance or Repair Area - NA Rough Terrain - NA Other - NA

BASIC MENTAL REQUIREMENTS

This job requires the mental and interpersonal capabilities to apply technical knowledge surrounding the functionality of protein-based products in applications. Must be able to disseminate product information and applications technology effectively to the marketplace. Must possess excellent communications skill to be able to explain technical information to both technical and non-technical persons.

WORKING CONDITIONS AND EXPOSURES

Working conditions vary; a portion of the job duties occur within a general office environment. Laboratory working conditions exist with exposure to acidic and alkaline substances, noise, biohazards, odor, moving machinery, and occasional use of poisonous chemicals as well as extended periods of standing. Frequently in a cold environment (40oF).

LGI’s foundation began in 1916 as the Lauridsen Creamery, selling butter, eggs and poultry to the local community. Although our headquarters in Ankeny, Iowa, is not far from the old creamery in Dedham, Iowa, the company is now worldwide with more than fifty manufacturing and sales locations in twenty countries and sales in more than sixty countries. Each company under the LGI umbrella is truly independent. They have the ability and the charge to be entrepreneurial, to seek out new markets, to develop new products and applications, and – above all - to discover new ways to add value through fractionation and novel application. What’s more, because some LGI companies have offices and presence around the world, all LGI companies benefit from their exposure to new markets, new products, new applications and new thinking.