Principal Scientist, Breakthrough Innovation

Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.; Lakeville (MA); On-site; USD 96,200 - 132,220; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Complete insurance package on Day‑1

Health, dental and vision insurance

401(k) with company matching

Tuition/Education assistance

Job summary

Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. is hiring a Principal Scientist, Breakthrough Innovation to develop transformative new ingredient products and expand our portfolio into new verticals.

You will work within R&D with cross-functional teams and external partners to conceptualize, formulate and create innovative products at bench and pilot scales. The role requires broad ingredient and product development expertise, consumer insight, and the ability to execute bold ideas.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or University Degree required; Master’s preferred.
• 7+ years of experience in product development.
• Experience with supplements, pet food and/or nutraceuticals is a plus.
• Familiarity with FDA/USDA regulatory bodies and standards.
• Experience with PLM systems, MS Office, and data analysis tools.

Responsibilities

• Ideate, design, develop and commercialize innovative products to expand the portfolio.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams and external partners to bring ideas to life.
• Provide supervision and mentorship to junior researchers and technicians.
• Develop technical timelines and manage multiple projects to meet milestones.
• Present ideas and recommendations to senior management.

Skills

Food science foundation

Strong technical acumen

Creative mindset

Strategic mindset

Leadership

Ambiguity navigation

Self-starter

Communication

Education

Bachelor's in Food Science or Food Engineering

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

PLM systems

Microsoft Office

Data analysis tools

Job description

Ocean Spray is hiring for a Principal Scientist, Breakthrough Innovation! We’re a team of farmers, thinkers, creators, and doers. Whatever your title, whatever your role – it always comes back to this: we’re a farmer‑owned co‑op where everyone rolls up their sleeves to get the job done. Three maverick farmers started it all – and we’ve been making our own way ever since. The Principal Product Development Scientist, Breakthrough Innovation, will develop transformative new ingredient products to support long‑term business objectives. The primary objective for this role is to expand our product portfolio outside of our current core categories into new verticals and product forms. This role resides within R&D but will require close collaboration with internal cross‑functional teams as well as external resources to conceptualize, formulate, and create new products. The role requires broad ingredient and product development expertise, keen consumer understanding, and an ability to ideate and develop innovative ideas. The ideal candidate will have a passion for new product development and possess a combination of creativity, deep technical knowledge, curiosity, and an ability to execute.

A Day in the Life...

• Ideate, design, develop, and commercialize innovative new products that expand the company’s portfolio beyond our core categories. Apply leading‑edge science to unlock innovation in new verticals.
• Collaborate closely with our Emerging Science group to bring leading‑edge technologies and ingredients to life in commercial products.
• Provide direct supervision and mentorship to a research technician, including assigning tasks, overseeing experimental execution, and supporting professional development.
• Benchtop prototyping and pilot scale tests.
• Comfort with ambiguity and fuzzy upfront blue‑sky ideation.
• Agile product and/or ingredient design with target consumer/customer at the center.
• Conduct competitive and feasibility assessments.
• Design ingredients and formula applications to ensure commercialized end products are reproducible and robust enough to meet customer expectations, quality and cost, and manufacturing requirements.
• Effectively manage technical timelines and multiple projects with competing deadlines.
• Develop technical timeline and collaborate on learning plan with cross‑functional partners.
• Deliver technical milestones within a stage‑gate framework.
• Perform costing exercises at multiple stages throughout the product development cycle.
• Present ideas and recommendations to senior management.
• Identify budget and cross‑functional resource needs.
• Identify and share portfolio‑building ideas and contribute to ideation sessions.
• Travel as needed for ideation sessions, trend treks, relevant trade shows, partner collaborations to commercialize new products at a manufacturing plant (15 %).

What We Are Looking For:

• Food Science or Food/Chemical Engineering Foundation/Strong Technical Acumen
• Ability to apply scientific principles to research and creative problem solving
• Creative and strategic mindset
• Courage to communicate directly and assume leadership role
• Willingness to influence broadly and defend ideas
• Ability to navigate ambiguity
• Highly motivated self‑starter, eager to challenge status‑quo and advocate for ideas with conviction
• Must be fearless in pursuit of big ideas
• Adaptability
• Expert understanding of food science, packaging, and manufacturing processes
• Advanced degree in Food Science, Food Engineering or Chemical Engineering, PhD is a plus
• 5‑10 years in product development, with experience in supplements, pet food and/or nutraceuticals
• Familiarity with FDA, USDA, or other relevant regulatory bodies and standards
• Experience with PLM systems, Microsoft Office Suite, and data analysis tools
• Note that this role is on‑site due to significant laboratory and pilot‑plant work

Education:

Bachelor's or University Degree (Required), Master’s Degree (Preferred)

Work Experience:

At least 7 Years of Experience

Annual Salary:

$96,200 - $132,220

The base salary range information above serves as a guideline of the position’s typical hiring range. We value and appreciate what makes you unique and will consider a variety of factors when determining an offer. These factors include, but are not limited to, your skills and experience, external and internal benchmarks, as well as overall company considerations. Certain positions may be eligible for short‑term and long‑term incentive rewards. We also offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits program that supports all aspects of your health and well‑being.

Benefits:

• Complete insurance package on Day‑1 that includes a plethora of health and wellness programs
• Health, Dental, and Vision insurance
• Health savings account
• Flexible spending account
• Life and accident insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Telehealth services
• 1:1 health coaching
• Supportive benefits for all the stages of your life
• 401(k) with up to 6 % company matching; additional potential discretionary match at year‑end
• Short‑Term Incentive/Performance bonuses
• Flexible scheduling options
• Vacation pay, up to three weeks of time (pro‑rated for your first year of employment)
• Holiday pay for 12 holidays
• Career development and growth opportunities
• Tuition/Education assistance programs
• Access to LinkedIn Learning
• Scholarship programs for children of employees
• Parental leave
• Bright Horizons Family Solutions – back‑up care, tutoring, etc.
• Adoption assistance
• Bereavement leave
• Up to $300 fitness reimbursement
• Up to $300 massage reimbursement
• Employee appreciation events
• Employee discounts
• Charitable giving

Who We Are:

You might have our iconic cranberry juice in your fridge or have gotten into heated holiday debate about what’s better – canned or fresh cranberry sauce. But did you know that the hardworking people growing the superfruit in our products are 700 family farmers that own our cooperative? They entrust us with what is most precious to them to create new and innovative products that will delight consumers and grow this beloved brand today and into the future. Team members, farmers, consumers and communities alike – we value what makes us unique and strive to connect our farms to families for a better life by living our values:
Grower Mindset – We embrace our grower‑owners innovative spirit and heritage through confidence, learning and focus on the future.
Sustainable Results – Guided by purpose, we are focused on delivering results for our grower‑owners.
Integrity Above All – We are ethical, doing the right thing for our grower‑owners, customers, consumers and each other.
Teamwork – We build diverse and inclusive teams that strengthen our cooperative.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.

For MA Applicants – It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. Any employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.