Scientist - Product Development (Research and Development)

What You Will Do

The Product Development Scientist are the leadership and execution of projects by designing & conducting experiments, recording experimental data and communicating of results to their supervisor by means of project updates, product cuttings, and laboratory reports. This position is responsible for calculating formulas, producing sample batches in the lab/pilot plant, conducting plant trials, leading cuttings with requisite technical information on hand and communicating with Sales, Marketing, Operations, Quality Assurance, and other departments as needed.

How You Will Make an Impact

• Manage multiple projects and show technical competence in the planning and completion of assigned projects leading to the development and implementation into production of new or revised products with minimal supervision.
• Records, collates, evaluates, and interprets experimental data and makes appropriate recommendations to all levels in the organization through written or oral reports. Maintains an accurate laboratory notebook of all intellectual property.
• Prepare and conduct meeting updates, product cuttings, presentations, shelf-life testing and cost analysis to project team members.
• Independently organize and conduct in-person plant trials
• Effectively organize R&D lab and R&D plant areas including cleaning equipment, inventory and stocking of supplies, ingredients and finished products.
• Participate and support QA team in yearly SQF certification including internal audits and paperwork compliance.
• Provide necessary technical support to vendors, customers and operations when problems occur with products.
• Provide support to method development in on-site benchtop and nutritional labs.
• R&D Director will serve as back-up to this position.

Agility and Innovation

• Set up and operate standard lab equipment / techniques of moderate complexity.
• Conduct innovation work sessions and develop new products in lab.
• Facilitate lab, pilot plant or plant test runs.
• When appropriate, supervises technicians, plant personnel and/or interns in the execution of experiments, plant test runs and product commissioning.

Relationships and People

• Independently carry out assignments and review data for accuracy and trends and communicate any concerns.
• Interact directly and effectively communicate with the Marketing team to successfully launch new products and achieve cross-functional strategic project goals.
• Effectively interact with cross-function project teams internal and external through written and oral communications and maintain current understanding of overall project status.
• Collaborate with colleagues to make significant individual contributions to deliver goals and execute project plans.

Work Location and Travel

• May travel 0-50% of the time, dependent on project and development location; including, but not limited to, Arkansas and Texas.
• May at times be required to travel to training programs, test runs, to co-packers, ingredient, or equipment vendors, and/or other suppliers and testing facilities at odd hours.
• This position is required onsite, with flexibility as needed.

What You Will Bring

• Strong problem-solving skills
• Basic understanding of cat and dog nutrition required advanced knowledge of AAFCO and FEDIAF regulations preferred
• Ability to formulate, use standard lab equipment and conduct experimental procedures
• Ability to perform standardized and routine assignments involving a sequence of related operations with minimal supervision
• Computer skills with proficiency to construct moderately complex graphs and charts, record formulas, design presentations and evaluate statistical analysis modules
• Excellent project management and organizational skills, attention to detail, and capacity to multitask efficiently
• Formulation of pet foods using a program such as C5, BestMix, or equivalent
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work in a team and adapt to dynamic work environment
• Ability to interact effectively with individuals at all levels of the organization
• Responds well to changing priorities and quick turnaround projects
• Physically capable of handling or transporting goods (up to 40 lbs)
• Must be able to withstand occasional cold temperatures (40° F)

Education/Skills

• Bachelors degree Food Science, Animal Science or equivalent technical qualifications required
• Minimum (2) years of experience in pet food industry
• Strong technical knowledge in meat and poultry science, meat microbiology, and pet food product development are required
• General laboratory experience is required
• Prior R&D project management experience is required
• Master degree preferred