Sr. Scientist, R&D - Product Dev

Kraft Heinz; Glenview (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 112,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental & Vision benefits

401k

Job summary

Kraft Heinz is seeking a Senior Scientist for Away From Home and KHI Product Development in Glenview, IL. You will lead innovative product development across multiple categories, translating business needs into practical plans and driving execution from formulation through scale-up and commercialization.

The role requires a strong background in food science or related field, 4+ years in product development, and excellent cross-functional collaboration and problem-solving skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 4+ years of relevant product development experience in CPG/food and beverage, or advanced degree with fewer years, or PhD with minimal years.
• Strong knowledge of ingredients, formulations, processing systems, and lab test methods.
• Proven ability to lead product development and commercialization across multiple projects and priorities.
• Strong communication, project management, and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead product development across cross-functional projects and product categories from concept through commercialization.
• Independently manage projects from formulation through scale-up and start-up.
• Translate business objectives into clear development plans and drive execution to market.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to advance projects, resolve issues, and meet timelines.
• Serve as an R&D point person for plants and support operations with troubleshooting and quality issues.
• Lead product testing, qualification, and commercialization activities across lab, pilot plant, and production environments.
• Communicate findings, risks, and implications clearly to stakeholders.
• Manage technical timelines, anticipate risks, and adjust plans as needed.

Skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Project management

Scientific writing

Strong communication

Problem-solving

Technical judgment

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science/Chemistry/Chemical Engineering/Life Sciences

Tools

Laboratory methods

Pilot plant testing

Scale-up processes

Job description

Job Description

Senior Scientist, Away From Home and KHI Product Development

The Sr. Scientist, Away From Home and KHI leads product development across medium- to high-complexity projects for the Away From Home / KHI business, supporting a broad portfolio of innovation, renovation, and brand maintenance initiatives. This role translates business needs into practical development plans, drives technical execution, and ensures projects progress effectively from formulation through scale-up and commercialization.

Job Description

Senior Scientist, Away From Home and KHI Product Development

The Sr. Scientist, Away From Home and KHI leads product development across medium- to high-complexity projects for the Away From Home / KHI business, supporting a broad portfolio of innovation, renovation, and brand maintenance initiatives. This role translates business needs into practical development plans, drives technical execution, and ensures projects progress effectively from formulation through scale-up and commercialization.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead product development across multiple cross-functional projects and product categories within the Away From Home / KHI business, including innovation, renovation, and brand maintenance work
• Independently lead product development projects from formulation through scale-up and start-up
• Translate business objectives into clear development plans and drive execution from concept through commercialization
• Partner with cross-functional teams to advance projects, resolve technical issues, and deliver against business timelines
• Serve as an R&D point person for manufacturing plants and support plant operations with troubleshooting, process design, and product quality-related issues to maintain business continuity
• Lead product testing, qualification, and commercialization activities across laboratory, pilot plant, and production environments
• Apply strong technical judgment to product, ingredient, process, and formulation challenges and develop recommendations and contingency plans based on findings
• Communicate technical findings, recommendations, risks, and implications clearly and in a timely manner to cross-functional stakeholders
• Manage technical timelines, proactively raise issues and risks, and adjust plans as needed
• Manage multiple priorities concurrently and identify tradeoffs, resource constraints, and priority conflicts across initiatives, including planned and unplanned brand maintenance work
• Interface with technical experts, category scientists, and cross-functional partners to understand technologies, applications, and business needs
• Monitor emerging trends and competitive activity within categories of responsibility
• Assist in scoping early-stage innovation ideas and participate in ideation sessions
• Conduct lab, pilot plant, and manufacturing trials to optimize formulations and processing systems
• Write specifications and maintain high-quality documentation that supports consistent, high-quality products
• Demonstrate flexibility and willingness to learn new categories, technologies, and processing areas in support of business needs

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in Food Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Life Sciences, or a related field, plus a minimum of 4 years of relevant product development experience within CPG, food and beverage, or a related industry; or master’s degree plus a minimum of 3 years of relevant experience; or PhD plus a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience
• Strong knowledge of ingredients, product formulation, processing systems, ingredient interactions, and laboratory test methods
• Proven ability to lead product development and commercialization work across multiple projects and priorities
• Strong communication, project management, and problem-solving skills
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment with changing priorities
• Strong technical judgment and ability to design effective experiments, interpret results, and adjust plans as needed
• Self-motivated and able to deliver results with a high degree of ownership in a complex environment
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment and collaborate across functions to deliver business objectives
• Demonstrated flexibility and ability to learn new products, technologies, and processes quickly
• Willingness to travel 30%, including travel to internal plants, co-manufacturers, suppliers, and other business locations within the United States

Work Environment & Schedule

This position is considered a normal office environment with 30% travel or visits to external locations; offices are open workspaces. Additionally, this role requires in-office presence at least three days per week in compliance with the hybrid work schedule.

Physical Requirements

• Lift up to 30 lbs and navigate lab, storage, pilot plant, and manufacturing environments.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain all duties or responsibilities required of the role. Duties and responsibilities may change or be added at any time, with or without notice.

Our Total Rewards philosophy is to provide a meaningful and flexible spectrum of programs that equitably support our diverse workforce and their families and complement Kraft Heinz’ strategy and values.

New Hire Base Salary Range

$89,800.00 - $112,200.00

Bonus: This position is eligible for a performance-based bonus as provided by the plan terms and governing documents.

The compensation offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors

Benefits

Coverage for employees (and their eligible dependents) through affordable access to healthcare, protection, and saving for the future, we offer plans tailored to meet you and your family’s needs. Coverage for benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents.

Wellbeing

We offer events, resources, and learning opportunities that inspire a physical, social, emotional, and financial well‑being lifestyle for our employees and their families.

Benefits

• Physical - Medical, Prescription Drug, Dental, Vision, Screenings/Assessments
• Social - Paid Time Off, Company Holidays, Leave of Absence, Flexible Work Arrangements, Recognition, Training
• Emotional – Employee Assistance Program , Wellbeing Programs, Family Support Programs
• Financial – 401k, Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Disability

Location(s)

Glenview R&D Center, Heinz Innovation Center

Kraft Heinz is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Underrepresented Ethnic Minority Groups/Women/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity and other protected classes. In order to ensure reasonable accommodation for protected individuals, applicants that require accommodation in the job application process may contact [e-mail] for assistance.