Senior Food Scientist

Novolex; West Cedar Rapids (IA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Tuition reimbursement

Professional development

Job summary

Novolex is seeking a Senior Food Scientist to provide Food Science and Food Engineering expertise to the Equipment group. You will consult with customers, sales, service, and engineering on food safety issues and PMO/3A compliance.

You will keep current on 3A standards, PMO changes, and sanitary system design while supporting field troubleshooting and engineering training. Travel up to 50% is possible as part of this role.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, or closely related discipline is required.
• Active membership in the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) is required.
• 5–10 years of relevant professional experience in Food Safety, Dairy Science, Dairy Processing, or related food manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide consultation to engineering on sanitary system design and PMO/3A compliance.
• Consult with sales and customers on food science concepts and engineering issues.
• Stay up to date on PMO changes and 3A standards affecting equipment.
• Troubleshoot food science problems with service teams and customers.
• Develop and deliver 3A-compliant design training for engineering staff.
• Train engineers to diagnose food science issues in the field.
• Organize on-site workshops and training sessions.

Skills

Project management

Communication

Cross-functional

Problem solving

Adaptability

Learning agility

Time management

Customer focus

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science or related

IFT membership

Job description

Company Overview

Why Choose Us?

Novolex is a leading manufacturer of food, beverage, and specialty packaging that supports multiple industries including foodservice, restaurant delivery and carryout, food processing, grocery and retail, and industrial sectors. Novolex manufacturing and sourcing expertise spans a diverse range of substrates including resin, paper, molded fiber, aluminum and more. We provide customers a broad array of stock and customized solutions with 120 product categories, 250 brands and over 39,000 SKUs.

Our Sustainability Commitment

The Novolex sustainability vision is built upon three pillars: our products, our operations and our people. Each is critically important to our growth and future as a business. These pillars form the foundation of our company-wide commitment to sustainability, helping us achieve our ambitious goals through our wide-ranging initiatives.

Job Description

Position Overview

The Senior Food Scientist will provide Food Science/Food Engineering expertise to the Equipment group of Novolex. This position provides consultation services to customers, sales, service, and engineering on Food Science issues, Food Engineering issues, and Food Safety issues. This position is responsible for keeping up to date on Food Science/Food Engineering issues related to Pactiv Evergreen equipment division.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Provide Consultation Service:

• Consult with the engineering team on sanitary system design, 3A and Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO) compliance issues.
• Consult with the sales team on food science/food engineering concepts with end customers.
• Consult with SQF Practitioner on food science issues where answers are needed promptly.
• Consult with end customers on plant design and food science issues.

Keep up to date on Technology:

• Stay up to date on processing issues in the areas that we sell machines in.
• Stay up to date on changes to the 3A standards and manage the seat for the 3A website.
• Stay up to date on the PMO and any changes that affect Pactiv Evergreen Equipment.
• Stay current on plant design within the markets we serve.

Provide Troubleshooting Assistance:

• Work with the service team to troubleshoot food science problems with our equipment.
• Work with end customers to assist in troubleshooting food science issues with our equipment installed in their plant.

Provide 3A-Compliant Design Training to Engineering Team:

• Develop and deliver training programs for engineering personnel on best practices for designing sanitary systems that comply with 3A standards.
• Provide hands-on guidance and mentorship to engineers to ensure compliance is embedded in design processes.
• Create and maintain training materials, including presentations, documentation, and design checklists to reinforce 3A standards.
• Conduct periodic reviews of engineering designs to identify and address compliance gaps and provide corrective feedback.

Train Engineering Team on Diagnosing Food Science Issues in the field:

• Train engineering personnel to diagnose and resolve food science issues encountered in the field.
• Develop troubleshooting protocols and share best practices for addressing food science challenges in customer facilities.
• Organize workshops or on-site training sessions to build engineers’ confidence and expertise in managing field-related food science problems.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong organizational and project management skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams and lead initiatives
• Action oriented
• Organizing & priority setting
• Problem solving
• Process oriented
• Drive for results
• Time management
• Customer focus
• Interpersonal effectiveness
• Adaptability and ambiguity management
• Functional technical skills
• Learning agility
• Continuous learning and development

Education and/or Experience Requirements (Qualifications)

[Please distinguish between what is Required versus Preferred]

Examples below:

• Bachelor’s degree required in Food Science, Food Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• Active membership in the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) required
• 5-10 years of relevant professional experience in Food Safety, Dairy Science, Dairy Processing, or a related food manufacturing environment.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment: (if applicable)

• Ability to travel up to 50%
• Ability to safely and successfully perform the essential job functions consistent with the ADA, FMLA and other federal, state and local standards, including meeting qualitative and/or quantitative productivity standards.
• Ability to maintain regular, punctual attendance consistent with the ADA, FMLA and other federal, state and local standards.
• Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 lbs.

Company Benefits

What You'll Get From Us

Benefits

With safety as our top priority and a commitment to employee well-being an important focus, we offer comprehensive and competitive benefits that include medical, dental and vision insurance as well as a variety of other well-being resources focused on mental, physical and financial health. Specific benefits and well-being programs may vary depending on where you work.

Community Engagement

At Novolex, giving back to the local communities that support us is important. Our Focused Giving Program prioritizes support for organizations whose missions promote sustainability initiatives or address food and hunger needs. We also encourage facility level support of activities in the communities where our employees live and work.

Training and Development

We offer constant opportunities for advancement. From skills development to advanced education programs, training and development programs and courses are available through MyLearning. Programs include company and industry training curricula, support for formal education through the Tuition Reimbursement Program (Non-Union), and a Learning Management System that supports and enhances employee skills at all levels of the organization.

Novolex is committed to providing equal employment opportunity in all employment practices, including but not limited to selection, hiring, promotion, transfer, and compensation to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to age, race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, handicap or disability, genetics, citizenship status, service member or veteran status, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law. Any individual who, because of his or her disability, needs an accommodation in connection with an aspect of the Company's application process should contact [e-mail].

Formerly Pactiv Evergreen