RD&A Leadership Development Program

Kerry; Beloit (WI); On-site; USD 65,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Paid time off

401(k) with company match

Employee share plan

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Kerry is hiring for the RD&A Associate Scientist role as part of the 24-month Leadership Development Program in Beloit, WI. The program rotates through beverages, food protection & preservation, meat science & coatings technology, and more, with hands-on projects and cross-functional collaboration.

You will work in a lab and pilot plant, report to the RD&A Manager, and help innovate new products while developing technical and leadership skills in a global company that values Courage, Ownership,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or master's degree in Food Science or related field with expected graduation Dec 2026–May 2027.
• Ability to taste and smell chemicals, flavors, and food products.
• Interest or experience in sensory panels and testing is a plus.
• Hands-on with a practical mindset and ability to work in cross-functional teams.
• Strong communication skills across all levels of the organization.
• Legal authorization to work in the United States; sponsorship is not provided.

Responsibilities

• Become a vital part of driving innovation by supporting customer requests through applying scientific and engineering principles.
• Work with cross-functional teams to optimize Kerry’s strengths and deliver the best Taste and Nutrition experience.
• Study methods to improve quality of foods (flavor, color, texture, nutrition, convenience, and composition).
• Live the Kerry values of Courage, Ownership, Inclusiveness, Open-mindedness, and Enterprising Spirit.

Skills

Sensory testing

Cross-functional teamwork

Interpersonal communication

Flavor/aroma awareness

Curiosity

Practical mindset

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Food Science or related field

Job description

At Kerry we’re obsessed with food and an ambition to provide 2 billion people access to more sustainable nutrition. Kerry is the world’s leading taste and nutrition company for food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. Every day we partner with customers to create healthier, tastier and more sustainable products that are consumed by billions of people across the world. Our vision is to be our customers’ most valued partner, creating a world of sustainable nutrition. A career with Kerry offers you an opportunity to shape the future of food while providing you opportunities to explore and grow in a truly global environment.

The Kerry Leadership Development Program is a 24-month rotational program, which will begin July 12, 2027. Throughout the 24 months, you will go through capability building sessions, interact with individuals across teams and functions, network with peers and leaders throughout the company and gain experience through real hands‑on projects.

This year we have some exciting first year rotations, to include beverages, food protection & preservation, meat science & coatings technology, process technology (spray dry dairy or stocks & broths), and dairy.

RD&A Overview

The RD&A Associate Scientists participate on proactive innovation projects and support customer requests both internal and external. They apply scientific and engineering principles for research and improvement of existing products. This includes conceptualizing, development, specification, and processing of new products. This will be achieved by working in a lab & pilot plant and understanding the customer needs. You will report to the RD&A Manager and be able to participate in brainstorming and ideation!

Key Responsibilities

What you'll do

• Become a vital part of driving innovation by supporting customer requests through applying scientific and engineering principles to research that will improve existing products.
• Work with cross functional teams to optimize the strengths of Kerry and deliver the best Taste and Nutrition experience for our customers.
• Study methods to improve quality of foods such as flavor, color, texture, nutritional value, convenience, or physical, chemical, and microbiological composition of foods.
• Actively live the Kerry values of Courage, Ownership, Inclusiveness, Open‑mindedness, & Enterprising Spirit

Qualifications and Skills

What you'll need to be successful

• A bachelor’s degree or master’s degree from an accredited college or university in Food Science, Food Engineering, Process Engineering, Nutrition, Dietetics, Microbiology, Food Chemistry or equivalent with an expected graduation date between December 2026 and May 2027.
• Must be able to taste and smell chemicals, flavors, and food products
• Experience or interest in sensory panels and testing a plus.
• Hands‑on, with a practical mindset
• Ability to work within cross functional teams
• Strong interpersonal skills with the proven ability to communicate effectively to all levels of an organization
• Legal Authorization to work in the United Sates – Sponsorship will not be provided for this role now or in the future
• Curious mindset

Compensation Data

The pay range for this position is $65,000 - $70,000 in Annual Salary. Kerry typically does not hire an individual at the top or near the top of the range, as we are a pay‑for‑performance company, and this range is set to continue to reward performance annually while in role. Compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. The specific compensation offered to a candidate within the above range may be influenced by a variety of factors including skills, qualifications, experience, and internal equity. In addition, this position is also eligible to earn a performance‑based incentive compensation. Kerry offers a competitive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, paid time off, a 401(k) plan with employee and company contribution opportunities, Employee Share Plan, Life, disability, and accident insurance, and tuition reimbursement. Accepting applications on a continuous basis until 2027 cohort is full. This job posting is anticipated to expire on March 31, 2027.

We may use artificial intelligence tools to support the review and assessment of applications and assist with scheduling interviews. We do not use AI to make decisions during the interview process. All candidate assessments and hiring decisions are made by our recruitment and leadership teams.

Kerry is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. Kerry will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States for this opening. Any offer of employment is conditional upon the successful completion of a background investigation and drug screen. Additional information can be found at Know Your Rights Workplace Discrimination is Illegal (dol.gov).