Senior Product Development Specialist

Nestlé Purina North America; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 90,000 - 124,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with company match

Healthcare coverage

Job summary

Nestlé Purina North America seeks a Product Development Senior Specialist to drive wet and dry pet food development within the Technical Services group. You will craft flavors, shapes, and textures and support manufacturing with strong formulation expertise.

Travel about 50% and partner with marketing to advance a robust development pipeline, while focusing on cost reduction and process improvements across products and factories.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree and 5+ years of experience in product development (food), formulation and scale-up experience.
• High School Diploma/GED and 9+ years of experience in product development (food), formulation and scale-up experience.
• Must be able to travel 50% of the time.

Responsibilities

• Manage development, scale up, and implementation of new and existing technologies to improve the performance of existing products and develop new products.
• Explore innovative applications of pet food product/process possibilities based on current state-of-the-art food technology.
• Serve as technical resource for marketing to develop a robust pipeline of product development opportunities, which includes developing technical project plans and timelines for all assigned projects.
• Support product formulation including appropriate ingredients, nutritional, regulatory and analytical requirements.
• Proactively monitor and provide product maintenance for assigned product responsibilities requiring standardized scientific procedures.
• Initiate and implement cost reduction ideas for assigned product lines and factories.
• Approximately 50% travel required.

Education

Bachelor's Degree

High School Diploma/GED

Job description

Driven by integrity and united by the people‑and‑pet bond, we find strong purpose in the work we do and an even greater joy in those we get to work alongside. Together, we harness the expertise of our long‑standing tradition of excellence to embrace possibility and continuously push to do what’s never been done before in pet care. Discover your purpose and fuel your passions when you bring your love of pets to a team that prides itself on the power of togetherness—We are Proudly Connected. Purely Driven.

Position Summary

Our Product Development Senior Specialists bring ideas to life for both our wet and dry factories. As part of the Technical Services group, you’ll create the flavors, shapes, and textures often innovated in marketing and so enjoyed by pets. Come prepared to handle various intermediate‑term product developments and engineering processes for the business, as well as provide technical support to manufacturing operations. You’ll leverage your sharp science background and food formulation experience to be able to effectively qualify new raw materials and suppliers. Identify and lead performance, waste reduction, and quality improvement projects to help us remain a leader on the shelf.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage development, scale up, and implementation of new and existing technologies to improve the performance of existing products and develop new products
• Explore innovative applications of pet food product/process possibilities based on current state‑of‑art food technology
• Serve as technical resource for marketing to develop a robust pipeline of product development opportunities, which includes developing technical project plans and timelines for all assigned projects
• Support product formulation including appropriate ingredients, nutritional, regulatory and analytical requirements
• Proactively monitor and provide product maintenance for assigned product responsibilities requiring standardized scientific procedures
• Initiate and implement cost reduction ideas for assigned product lines and factories
• Approximately 50% travel required

Requirements

Option 1 (Bachelor’s Path):

• Bachelor's Degree
• 5+ years of experience in product development (food), formulation and scale‑up experience, or related

Option 2 (High School Path):

• High School Diploma/GED
• 9+ years of experience in product development (food), formulation and scale‑up experience, or related

Must be able to travel 50% of the time.

Compensation

The approximate pay range for this position is $90,000 to $124,000. Final compensation may vary based on factors including but not limited to background, knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as geographic location of the position. This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Benefits

Nestlé offers performance‑based incentives and a competitive total rewards package, which includes a 401(k) with company match, healthcare coverage and a broad range of other benefits. Incentives and/or benefit packages may vary depending on the position.

Commitment to Inclusion

It is our business imperative to remain a very inclusive workplace.

To our veterans and separated service members, you’re at the forefront of our minds as we recruit top talent to join Nestlé. The skills you’ve gained while serving our country, such as flexibility, agility, and leadership, are much like the skills that will make you successful in this role. In addition, with our commitment to an inclusive work environment, we recognize the exceptional engagement and innovation displayed by individuals with disabilities. Nestlé seeks such skilled and qualified individuals to share our mission where you’ll join a cohort of others who have chosen to call Nestlé home.

The Nestlé Companies are equal employment opportunity employers. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

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