Sr Food Scientist

Socket.dev; Appleton (WI); Hybrid; USD 86,000 - 114,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

Retirement savings benefits

Leave support

Job summary

McCain Foods USA, Inc. is seeking a Sr Food Scientist in Appleton, WI.

This role leads front-end and scale-up activities for snacking product development, translating consumer insights into innovative prototypes and commercialization-ready solutions. As a technical leader, you will drive stage-gate processes, collaborate across Marketing, Manufacturing, Procurement, and Innovation, and guide IP development while maintaining high taste, quality, and cost targets.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, Food Chemistry, Design, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 6 years in the CPG industry with 3+ years leading innovation-focused product development programs.
• Experience partnering with suppliers, academia, and cross-functional teams across regions.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of product development capabilities within Global Snacking R&D Innovation.
• Translate consumer insights into innovative product concepts and commercialization-ready solutions.
• Provide scientific expertise on ingredients, processing technologies, and product functionality.

Skills

Food science expertise

Product development

Leadership

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Food Science/Engineering/Chemistry/Design

Job description

Position Title: Sr Food Scientist

Position Type: Regular - Full-Time

Grade:Grade 05

Requisition ID:44667

In every role, McCainers are ambitious, curious, and passionate about creating exceptional work experiences - together. With a customer-first mindset, we make doing business with McCain easy.

About the role.

The Senior Food Scientist reports to the R&D Global Snacking Innovation Director and plays a critical role in shaping the future of McCain’s Global Snacking business through Front End Innovation. As a subject matter expert in food science and product development, this role leads the creation, development, and commercialization of innovative snacking products that deliver exceptional consumer experiences and strengthen McCain’s competitive advantage.

Working across a global network of stakeholders, the Senior Food Scientist translates consumer and operator insights into innovative product solutions, leveraging scientific expertise, design-thinking methodologies, and advanced food ingredient knowledge. This role serves as a technical leader throughout the stage-gate process, driving strategic innovation initiatives from concept through scale-up and commercialization.

What you’ll be doing.

• Lead the development of product development capabilities within the Global Snacking R&D Innovation team, ensuring best-in-class practices are applied throughout product design and scale-up.
• Translate consumer and operator insights into innovative product concepts, prototypes, and commercialization-ready solutions.
• Provide scientific expertise on ingredients, processing technologies, manufacturing capabilities, and product functionality to support innovation initiatives.
• Lead new product development (NPD) projects through commercialization, ensuring products deliver exceptional taste, quality, and competitive advantages.
• Serve as the Technical Project Leader for assigned initiatives by developing project plans, identifying risks, implementing mitigation strategies, and driving cross-functional alignment.
• Collaborate closely with Marketing, Manufacturing, Procurement, Innovation, Applied Research, Value Engineering, Technical Services, Sensory, and Nutrition teams throughout the product development process.
• Develop and implement ingredient and technology-based solutions to improve existing product offerings, support cost optimization, and strengthen McCain’s market position.
• Build and manage partnerships with ingredient suppliers, academic institutions, research organizations, and open innovation providers to advance innovation capabilities.
• Establish and oversee product testing protocols, research methodologies, and best practices that support informed development decisions and robust product specifications.
• Deliver technical expertise, training, and best practices to internal teams while contributing to intellectual property development and knowledge-sharing initiatives.

What you’ll need to be successful.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, Food Chemistry, Design, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 6 years of relevant experience within the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry.
• Minimum 3 years of experience leading innovation-focused product development programs, preferably within the food design or food innovation landscape.
• Experience working within a global organization and collaborating across multiple regions and cultures.
• Experience partnering with researchers, product developers, ingredient suppliers, open innovation providers, agencies, marketing teams, and manufacturing/quality functions.
• Strong expertise in food science, product development, food engineering, ingredient functionality, and food design principles.
• Knowledge of Food Science, Food Chemistry, and Food Rheology is highly desirable.
• Proven track record of delivering successful product innovations through scientific leadership and consumer-centered development.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and strategic decision-making capabilities.
• Ability to work effectively in ambiguous environments and drive innovation from ideation through commercialization.
• Demonstrated success influencing and managing stakeholders across complex matrix organizations.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to engage both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experience managing external partnerships with suppliers, academic institutions, consultants, and innovation organizations.
• Proven leadership capabilities with a passion for fostering collaboration, inclusion, and innovation.

About the team.

This role is part of McCain’s Global Research & Development organization and sits within the Global Snacking Product Development team. The team is focused on enabling transformational innovation across McCain’s global appetizer and snacking portfolio. Working closely with cross-functional partners and global stakeholders, the team leverages consumer insights, scientific expertise, and emerging technologies to create winning product experiences and drive business growth.

Leadership principles.

At McCain, our leadership principles guide how we engage with customers, collaborate as a team, and achieve success. We focus on understanding customer needs, driving innovation, empowering people, and taking ownership to clear obstacles and deliver results.

AI & Digital Capabilities.

At McCain, AI and digital capabilities are part of how we work and innovate. We value curiosity toward emerging technologies and the thoughtful, responsible use of AI-enabled tools to improve outcomes as part of our future-ready culture.

The McCain experience.

We are McCain. This statement is a testament to our collective strength and our individual value. Your contributions play a vital role in our success. Our winning culture is rooted in authenticity and trust, empowering us to bring out the best in one another. Here, you’ll find opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive. Join us and experience why we’re better together.

Our purpose is grounded in building meaningful relationships. We’re big believers in the power of working together in person—it helps us stay connected, collaborate more effectively, and grow as a team. At the same time, we recognize the importance of flexibility. Most office-based roles follow a hybrid model, with the option to work remotely two days a week. There may be exceptions depending on the role and location, so we encourage you to speak with your recruiter for more details.

Compensation Package$85,500.00 - $114,000.00 . USD annually + Bonus eligibility

Benefits: At McCain, we’re on a mission to create a winning culture that puts employee safety and well-being at the heart of what we do, every day. We understand and appreciate that each person’s needs are unique and ensure our benefits & well-being programs reflect that. Employees are eligible for the following benefits: health coverage (medical, dental, vision, prescription drug), retirement savings benefits, and leave support including medical, family and bereavement. Well-being programsinclude vacation and holidays, company-supported volunteering time, and mental health resources. Coverages are aligned with applicable law and can vary by work level, location, and nature of the role. Additional benefit detail available during the application process.

Your well-being matters to us, and we’re here to provide you with the necessary resources to support you in being your best self at work — and at home.

McCain Foods is an equal opportunity employer. As a global family-owned company, we strive to be the employer of choice in the diverse communities around the world in which we live and work. We recognize that inclusion drives our creativity, resilience, and success and makes our business stronger. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

McCain is an accessible employer. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials or accessible meeting rooms), please let us know and we will work with you to find appropriate solutions.

Your privacy is important to us. By submitting personal data or information to us, you agree this will be handled in accordance with McCain’s Global Privacy Policy and Global Employee Privacy Policy, as applicable. McCain leverages AI in the hiring process, though all final decisions are made by humans. You can understand our approach to AI and how your personal information is being handled here.

Job Family:Research & Development
Location(s): US - United States of America : Wisconsin : Appleton

Company:McCain Foods USA, Inc.