R&D Documentation Specialist

R&D Documentation Specialist

The R&D Documentation Specialist is responsible for creating and maintaining accurate product-development documentation and data for the Research & Development team. Working to standards set by R&D leadership, this role owns bill of materials (BOM) set-ups, formula and recipe documentation, ingredient statements and nutritional information for new products, and the documentation packages that move projects from development through commercialization. The Specialist also enters and maintains R&D-item records in the TraceGains application, coordinating closely with the Quality team, which administers the TraceGains system. This role keeps R&D documentation clean and projects moving as PS Seasoning grows.

Key Responsibilities

Product Development Documentation

• Create and maintain bill of materials (BOM) set-ups for new and existing finished goods, ensuring accuracy of components, quantities, and units of measure.
• Develop and maintain formula and recipe documentation as the R&D system of record, following naming, versioning, and data-integrity standards set by R&D leadership.
• Build and update ingredient statements and nutritional information for products in development, in line with FDA and USDA requirements.
• Maintain organized, retrievable R&D project documentation.

Data & Systems (TraceGains shared with Quality)

• Enter and maintain R&D-item records in the TraceGains application (e.g., new R&D ingredients and items), coordinating with the Quality team, which administers the system.
• Pull supplier and ingredient data from TraceGains to support R&D documentation, and flag missing or inconsistent information to Quality for follow-up.
• Partner with the Quality Systems Specialist/Coordinator on item set-ups and specification inputs, respecting Quality's ownership of the TraceGains system, vendor document follow-up, and official specification sheets.

Commercialization & Launch Support

• Prepare and organize documentation packages required for commercialization reviews and first-time production runs.
• Coordinate with Quality, Regulatory, and Sourcing to keep R&D-side documentation accurate and consistent.

Continuous Improvement

• Support continuous improvement of R&D documentation workflows, templates, and standards.
• Maintain audit-ready R&D records; identify and correct data discrepancies.

Compliance

• Execute documentation to the standards and templates established by R&D leadership; escalate exceptions appropriately.
• Comply with GMP, personal hygiene, and food safety and employee safety programs.

Qualifications

Associate's degree in Food Science, Business, Information Management, or a related field, or equivalent experience. New graduates encouraged to apply.

1+ years of experience in documentation, data entry, administrative, or specification-support work preferred; relevant internships count.

Excellent attention to detail, organizational, and communication skills.

Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel.

Beginning knowledge of product specifications, BOMs, and nutritional labeling a plus.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in the food manufacturing or processing industry.

Exposure to an ERP system (e.g., Deacom) and/or TraceGains or a similar PLM / document-management system.

Working Conditions

Primarily an office and laboratory environment, with occasional visits to production areas.

Occasional travel to other PS Seasoning facilities may be required.

Flexible hours may be necessary to meet project and product-launch deadlines.

Physical Requirements

Ability to work in a food manufacturing environment, including exposure to varying temperatures and noise levels.

Ability to comply with all cGMP requirements to enter a production environment.

Ability to sit or stand for extended periods while performing documentation work.

8:00am 4:30pm (Core Hours); additional hours, 1st and 2nd shift support or weekend support as needed during launches or deadlines.

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