NPD Food Research Scientist

The ASR Group® family of companies make up the world’s largest refiner and marketer of cane sugar. The companies produce a full line of grocery, industrial, foodservice and specialty sweetener products. Across North America, ASR Group® companies operate five sugar refineries, located in California, Maryland, Louisiana, Canada and Mexico. In Europe, ASR Group® companies operate sugar refineries in the United Kingdom, Portugal, and, with a joint venture partner, Italy. The companies also farm sugarcane and own sugar mills in Mexico and Belize. The ASR Group® portfolio includes the leading brands Domino®, C&H®, Florida Crystals®, Redpath®, Tate & Lyle®, Lyle's®, Sidul® and Whitworths®.  ASR Group® companies also produce and market Tellus®, a single-use, compostable tableware and foodservice product made from plant fibers, including sugarcane.

OVERVIEW

The NPD Research Scientist I will be a thought leader on new product innovation and how to successfully develop, execute and project manage it within the organization. The individual will independently research, conduct experiments, gather data, develop preliminary findings and prepare written reports to drive in new/improved products, cost savings and unique technologies and methods.  They will also provide timelines, interact and act as a NPD lead within cross functional groups to successfully deliver projects to the marketplace. 

DETAILED ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Designs and develops new products from bench top to commercialization while staying within specified parameters of cost and label claims; evaluates new ingredients, verifies nutritional profiles, and conducts product or packaging stability assessments to deliver against design briefs.
• Supports development of pilot plant processes, systems, methods and technologies by keeping informed of new and existing equipment, approaches and techniques; designing experiments; preparing products for testing; evaluating test results; and providing conclusions or next steps
• Develops and implements projects while preserving a safe and accident-free laboratory environment.
• Supports production trials with technical cross-functional team members with focus on validation of product formulation, process and packaging specifications.
• Documents processes and procedures in electronic notebooks, prepares technical reports, analyzes data and develops product specifications for approval by Product Development, QA, and Regulatory.
• Provides support to sales and customers on new products and technologies through presentations, product demonstrations, and attending industry tradeshows.
• Collaborates with cross functional teams through project meetings
• Supports the development of quality assurance programs partnering with QA.
• Effectively uses technical and business acumen to explain concepts to technical and non-technical audiences, tailoring communications to meet diverse needs
• Acts as a resource and consultant for general information for other technical personnel within the company
• Complies with GMP/GLP rules and regulations while conducting experiments with a safe quality mindset. 

WORK EXPERIENCES

• Bachelor’s degree with 3-5 years’ experience or Master’s Degree with 1-2 years’ experience in formulation and product development from bench to scale up.
• Hands-on experience of analytical and physical testing methodologies within food industry ranging from products to packaging, such as moisture, color, rheology, pH and spectroscopy.
• Project management experience is preferred.
• Familiar with Genesis or similar software preferred
• Compusense Sensory Software a plus.
• Experience with SAP PLM preferred.
• Computer literacy in MS Outlook, Excel, Word, Access, Teams, Projects and Power Point essential
• Ability to communicate and present project updates and risks to R&D leadership

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

• BS or MS in Food Science, Nutrition, Chemistry, Biology or related technology/engineering field is required.

ESSENTIAL CAPABILITIES (KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES)

• Analytical Thinking & Decision Making – Identifies and understands trends and/or issues; connects data points through analysis to arrive at a logical conclusion.
• Customer Orientation - Keeps internal and/or external customer(s) in mind at all times. Strives to proactively address customer concerns and needs.
• Effective Communication – Expresses ideas and information in a clear and concise manner by tailoring one's message to fit the interests and needs of the audience.
• Establishes Trust – Gaining the confidence and faith of others by actions and words that promote being honest, forthcoming, integrious and vulnerable.
• Problem-Solving – Anticipates, evaluates, diagnoses, and resolves problems in a systematic and fact-based manner.
• Results Orientation & Accountability – Takes accountability, identifies, executes and drives actions to consistently achieve desired results.
• Teamwork & Collaboration – Creates a climate that fosters commitment to a common vision and shared values that promote cooperation and working together through trust and support of others.
• Adaptability/Flexibility – Maintaining effectiveness in varying environments and with different tasks, responsibilities and people.
• Continuous Improvement – Establishes methods and utilizes specialized techniques to monitor and improve performance of systems and processes.
• Self-Development – Seeks feedback on one’s strengths and weaknesses and initiates activities to increase or enhance their knowledge, skills, and proficiency in order to perform more effectively or enhance their career.

We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other category protected under federal, state, or local law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.