Sr. Product Development Specialist

Hybrid role

Job Title

Sr. Product Development Specialist

Job #

US20038

Requisition Type

Regular

Function

Product Development

State/Province

Virginia

City

Blacksburg

Region

US

Posting Start Date

Jun-05-2026

Division Information

The Pet Care business unit of Spectrum Brands is based in St. Louis, Missouri with distribution, manufacturing and sales offices throughout the US and globe. Owners of dogs, cats, birds, small animals, fish and reptiles rely on our brands for exceptional value and trusted results. Our industry-leading brands include Tetra®, Instant Ocean®, Marineland®, 8-in-1®, Dingo®, FURminator®, Nature’s Miracle®, GloFish®, DreamBone® and SmartBones®.

Job Summary

The Senior Product Development Specialist is responsible for assisting in project management to create new pet products within AAFCO and FDA guidelines, bring new ideas for innovation, and much more! This position is part of an experienced R&D team with flexible management and responsive leadership dedicated to building careers. This role will take direction from the R&D Nutritionist, Senior R&D Nutritionist, R&D Manager or R&D Lab Supervisor to identify pet market needs and develop innovative solutions for a global market. Come join a winning team that manages a growing $1.2 billion product portfolio!

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

Product Development

• Assist in formulation of pet products, including feed supplements and diets as applicable
• Assist in developing products for the U.S. and international pet markets according to relevant regulations
• Assist in scientifically substantiating product label claims based on peer-reviewed literature and/or clinical efficacy results
• Interact with internal and 3rd party manufacturers to provide product formulation guidance
• Review U.S. and global 3rd party formulas to ensure proper product specifications are met
• Interact with both internal and external manufacturing teams to troubleshoot production processes
• Collaborate with Marketing to develop global products that meet label claims and ensure customer and consumer satisfaction
• Partner with Food Safety and Regulatory to develop safe and efficacious products that adhere to all regulatory guidelines
• Ability to perform review and provide feedback on Marketing’s desired product claims
• Ability to create a written document to substantiate global product claims through literature review and/or efficacy testing
• Participate in R&D Led Innovation by brainstorming, presenting, and developing innovative product ideas that align with brand strategy
• Assist the R&D Nutritionist, Senior R&D Nutritionist, R&D Manager or R&D Lab Supervisor in managing and streamlining integration activity as newly acquired brands join the portfolio

Testing & Analysis

• Assist in the design of global pet product stability study protocols
• Assist in global product formulation by creating and troubleshooting lab batches
• Lead all stability studies and analyze data to determine U.S. and international product shelf-life
• Create and maintain database of global product stability certificates
• Participate in the investigation of consumer complaints and collaborate with Quality Assurance and Food Safety to implement corrective actions for existing U.S. and international pet products
• Partner with Production, Quality Assurance, and Packaging Engineering to perform manufacturing pilots and line trials
• Prepare mock-up samples in response to marketing and sales needs for U.S. and international product pitches
• Maintain annual testing requirements for claims substantiation on global products
• Maintain and update R&D laboratory Standard Operating Procedures
• Other duties as assigned as opportunities arise

Process Development

• Actively participate in the continuous improvement of New Product Development (NPD) and working processes, as well as interdepartmental relationships
• Contribute to the company Speed to Market initiative by prioritizing time and resources

Education and Experience Profile

• Role not eligible for sponsorship
• Bachelor’s degree with preference given to those with Chemistry, Biology, Food Sciences, Animal Sciences, or related science background
• 3+ years of experience in product development and/or a laboratory setting

Required Skills

• Knowledge of laboratory operations, equipment, and safety requirements
• Possess basic critical thinking and analytical skills
• High level of organizational skills
• Ability to work independently with little supervision
• Ability to think creatively and overcome obstacles
• Demonstrate strong multi-tasking skills
• Good communication skills, both written and oral
• Ability to work well in a team environment
• Ability to communicate effectively with all levels within the organization
• PC Skills: Excel, PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Adobe, etc.

Work Environment

This role offers a hybrid work schedule (Monday and Friday are work from home, Tuesday through Thursday are work on-site)

• 85-90% office environment
• 5-10% lab environment
• Up to 5% travel on an as needed basis

The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this job/classification.  It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

Spectrum Brands is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.