Staff Meat Scientist

Home Market Foods; Norwood (KY); On-site; USD 130,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision coverage

Pet Insurance

Wellness Plan

Tuition Reimbursement

College Scholarship for dependents

401k Company Match

Paid Time Off

Life Insurance Coverage

Relocation Assistance

Employee Bonus Referral Program

Community Impact Opportunities

Team Events

Job summary

Home Market Foods seeks a Staff Meat Scientist to define and validate formulas for ground and comminuted blends, aiming for controlled yield, texture, and cost across the portfolio. You will translate raw-material variability into specification-driven blends and support procurement and operations.

The role requires bench and pilot-plant R&D experience, scale-up expertise, and collaboration across R&D, FSQA, procurement, production, and finance. Located in Kentucky, on-site.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s in Meat/Animal/Food Science (advanced degree a plus).
• Hands-on R&D bench and pilot-plant formulation with ground/comminuted meat.
• Knowledge of meat blend composition and functionality.
• Experience scaling up to full production and equipment validation.
• Quantitative orientation for formulation, yield and cost models.
• Proven cross-functional collaboration (R&D, FSQA, Procurement, Production, Finance).

Responsibilities

• Define formula parameters for ground and comminuted blends.
• Build least-cost formulation models using available trim streams.
• Establish blend tolerances to absorb raw-material variability.
• Translate eating quality and label requirements into specs.
• Lead bench and pilot formulations; transfer to production.
• Validate formulas on equipment and assess throughput.
• Identify causes of yield/texture variance and correct specs.
• Provide formulation inputs for new product development and Stage Gate.

Skills

Meat Science

R&D bench work

Pilot-plant formulation

Formulation modeling

Yield analysis

Equipment validation

Cross-functional collaboration

Regulatory labeling understanding

Cost/price optimization

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Meat Science, Animal Science, Food Science or related

Advanced degree a plus

Tools

Pilot-plant equipment

Scale-up capability

Job description

Pay Range: $130,000+ based on experience and qualifications

Summary:

TheStaff Meat Scientistsupportsthe technical definition of Home MarketFoods’ground and comminuted meat blends. This is a hands‑on, deep‑technical individual contributor role responsible foridentifying,validating, and codifying the formula parameters that govern blend composition, yield, texture, and cost across the company’s portfolio.

The positionsupportsformulation, yield, and equipment performanceformeasurable, repeatable anchorpointsparticularly as facilities, equipmentsettings, and raw‑material sources evolve. The Staff Meat Scientist translates raw‑material variability into controlled, specification‑driven blends that deliver consistent quality at planned cost, working at the intersection of procurementand operations.

Key Responsibilities

Blend Formulation & Parameter Definition

• Definethe controlling formula parameters for all ground andcomminutedmeat blends — chemical lean (CL) targets, fat analysis and fat capping, protein, moisture, collagen/connective‑tissue limits, and added‑ingredient functional levels.

• Build andmaintainleast‑cost formulation models thatoptimizeacross available trim streams (chemical lean) while holding finished‑product specificationsconstant.

• Establish acceptable substitution ranges and blend tolerances sothatraw‑material variability can be absorbed without compromising finished‑product specification.

• Translate target eating quality and label requirements into quantitative blend specifications.

Yield, Cost & Performance Standardization

• Define, measure, and standardize formulation yields — raw‑to‑cook yield, purge, shrink, and moisture/fat loss — andestablishthe baseline metrics against which formula and process changes are evaluated.

• Partner with the Industrialization team to quantify the cost and yield impact of formulation decisions, providing Procurement with the technical basis for trim‑buying and blend‑economictrade‑offs.

• Identifythe “anchor points” that allow formulation and yield performance to bemonitoredas standing KPIs.

Scale‑Up & Equipment Validation

• Lead bench and pilot‑plant formulation work and own the transfer of validated formulas to full‑scale production.

• Validate that formulas perform reproducibly on existing and newly installed equipment (grinders, mixers/blenders, emulsion mills, formers), characterizing equipment performance anddemonstratedthroughput as inputs to the blend specification.

• Diagnose formulation‑and equipment‑driven sources of yield loss, texture defects, or quality variance on the production floor, and define corrective specifications.

• Support the technical evaluation of capital equipment by tying vendor performance anddemonstratedrates to formulation and yield outcomes.

Cross‑Functional & Technical Support

• Provide formulation inputsfornew‑product development and the Stage Gate process, ensuring new blends aresourceable, manufacturable, and cost‑validated.

• Partner withFSQA and R&Dso that blend specifications align with quality, regulatory, and labeling requirements.

• Document all formula parameters, tolerances, and validation results so that blend knowledgeresidesin controlled specifications.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree inMeat Science, Animal Science, Food Science, or a closely related discipline (advanced degreea plus).

• Demonstratedhands‑on R&D bench and pilot‑plant formulationexperience with ground or comminuted meat products.

• Working knowledge ofmeat blend composition and functionality— chemical lean and fat analysis, least‑cost blending, bind/texture, water‑holding capacity, pH, and cook yield.

• Direct experience withplant‑floor scale‑up and equipment validation— taking a formula from bench to full production and confirming reproducibility on processing equipment.

• Quantitative orientation: comfort building and interpreting formulation, yield, and cost models.

• Proven experience of successfully collaborating across multiple functions, especially R&D, FSQA, Procurement,Productionand Finance.

Preferred

• USDA/FSIS regulatory and labeling fluency (standards of identity, fat/lean labeling, species declaration).

• Familiarity with raw‑material markets and trim grading as they relate to blend economics.

• Experience standardizing formulation andyieldmetrics across multiple facilities or equipment configurations.

• Sensory evaluation experience for meat products.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands and work environment described below are representative of thoserequiredto perform this job’s essential functions.

• The role requires good vision, manual dexterity, and the ability to sit or stand for prolonged periods.

• Preparedness to work in varied environmental conditions, including extreme temperatures and weather conditions, while adhering to safety regulations.

• Use of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) is mandatory in designated areas of the facility.

Exciting Benefits Await You!

• Enjoy top‑tier Medical, Dental, Vision coverage.
• Pamper your furry friends with Pet Insurance.
• Stay fit with our Wellness Plan and Gym Reimbursement.
• Boost your skills with Employee Tuition Reimbursement.
• Unlock endless opportunities with College Scholarship for dependents.
• Reap the Rewards of Our Bonus Program Available to Our Salary and Hourly Employees.
• Receive a Generous 401k Company Match.
• Take advantage of Competitive Paid Time Off.
• Elevate Your Safety Net with Company‑Sponsored Life Insurance Coverage.
• Receive Relocation Assistance for a Smooth Transition.
• Earn Rewards through our Employee Bonus Referral Program.
• Elevate Your Workplace Experience with Community Impact Opportunities.
• Celebrate Together with Team Events and Seasonal Workplace Gatherings.

At Home Market Foods, we champion equal opportunities for all, prohibiting discrimination based on race, religion, gender, and more. Our commitment extends across all aspects of employment, ensuring a fair and inclusive workplace.

At this time, Home Market Foods will not sponsor applicants for employment authorization for this position for the following work visas: STEM OPT EAD, H-1B, H-1B1, E-3, O-1, J-1, or TN