R&D Chemist: Pilot-to-Production Strategist

Land O'Lakes, Inc.; Town of River Falls (WI); On-site; USD 93,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Land O’Lakes, Inc. is seeking an R&D Chemist to drive pilot lab operations and transfer technology from the lab to commercial production.

You will lead R&D projects, derisk programs, and implement new capabilities to improve production efficiency and product quality while upholding safety and regulatory standards. As the technical lead for the plant nutrition line, you will own QA/QC, coordinate with manufacturing facilities, suppliers, and cross‑functional teams to enable successful scale‑up

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, or related field.
• Master’s degree preferred.
• Leadership experience in Chemical Laboratory and/or Manufacturing R&D.

Responsibilities

• Serve as technical lead on R&D projects through all stages of the process.
• Derisk programs and implement new capabilities for commercialization.
• Coordinate across business units to drive manufacturing scale-up and launches.
• Oversee pilot lab operations, budgeting, and consumables management.
• Lead QA/QC investigations and coordinate with Corporate Quality.

Skills

Leadership

QA/QC

Project management

Analytical chemistry

Lab safety

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in chemistry/chemical engineering

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

OSHA regulations

Job description

Land O’Lakes, Inc. is seeking an R&D Chemist to drive pilot lab operations and transfer technology from the lab to commercial production.

You will lead R&D projects, derisk programs, and implement new capabilities to improve production efficiency and product quality while upholding safety and regulatory standards. As the technical lead for the plant nutrition line, you will own QA/QC, coordinate with manufacturing facilities, suppliers, and cross‑functional teams to enable successful scale‑up