R&D Scientist, Commercialization

Who We Are 

At JonnyPops, our team is empowered to make an impact at work every day from producing high-quality, innovative frozen novelties to spreading kindness one pop at a time. We look for bright and ambitious individuals who seek out challenges, thrive in fast-paced and high-growth environments, align with our core values, and get fulfilment from seeing their work transform the world around them.   

Based in Elk River, MN, JonnyPops develops, manufactures, distributes, and markets frozen novelties. Retailers from coast to coast including Target, Costco, Publix, Kroger, Cub, along with thousands of regional and local grocers make JonnyPops part of their assortment.   

Growing from a dorm room start-up in 2012, JonnyPops mission is to make "A Better Pop for a Better World!" JonnyPops leads the frozen novelties space in innovation and uses simple ingredients with no artificial dyes. Every pop stick includes a kind deed, spreading kindness every day.  

Joining JonnyPops is an exciting opportunity to be part of high-growth brand and have a direct impact on the company’s success. Join our team and help us make “A Better Pop, for a Better World!” 

Job Summary 

 
The R&D Scientist, Commercialization plays a critical role in taking new products from development into full scale production. This role is focused on commercializing new products on plant equipment, ensuring formulations, processes, and specifications translate successfully from bench to manufacturing. 

The scientist partners closely with Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, and Marketing to lead plant trials, optimize processes, troubleshoot scaleup challenges, and ensure products are launched safely, efficiently, and to specification. This is a highly hands‑ on role with significant time‑ spent in production environments. 

 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

• Lead product scale‑up, validation, and commercialization during plant trials and initial production runs 

• Serve as the R&D point of contact on‑site during trials to troubleshoot formulation, process, and equipment performance issues 

• Translate product formulations and specifications into robust, repeatable manufacturing processes 

• Partner with Operations to optimize run parameters, yields, quality, and throughput during commercialization 

• Ensure new products meet sensory, quality, cost, and operational targets at scale 

• Develop and refine process documentation, specifications, and work instructions to support successful handoff to Operations 

• Monitor and verify production adherence to R&D developed formulas, processes, and specifications 

• Collaborate cross functionally with Quality, Supply Chain, Procurement, Regulatory, and Marketing throughout commercialization 

• Identify and execute cost saving or efficiency opportunities without compromising product quality or brand standards 

• Serve as the technical product expert for consumer complaints, participating in investigation, root cause determination, and resolution in collaboration with Quality and Operations. 

• Manage technical relationships with ingredient and packaging suppliers during commercialization and scale‑up 

• Support sensory evaluations, plant tastings, and shelf life validation as part of launch readiness 

• Maintain R&D lab, pilot materials, and ingredient inventories as needed 

Food Safety Responsibilities 

• Responsible for ensuring that R&D activities are done in accordance with GMPs, and that food safety and quality in production is not compromised. 

• Collaborate with QA team to review and approve suppliers. 

• Collaborate with QA team to approve compliant nutritional labelling and packaging. 

• Assist Quality and Production teams in root cause analysis and corrective actions. 

Minimum Qualifications 

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, Dairy Science, Chemistry, Chemical   Engineering, Microbiology or related field 

• Entry level to 3-5 years of experience with product development or R&D in the food industry  

• Experience with nutritional labelling (TraceGains NutriCalc) preferred  

• Proven experience with formulation development and commercialization. 

• Strong understanding of sensory science, flavor systems, and food ingredients. 

• Proficient in using Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint. 

• Able to perform basic mathematical calculations and analyses. 

• Ability to interpret lab results. 

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey technical information clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences. 

Physical Demands 

Physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand, sit, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; talk and hear, and reach with hands or arms. The employee is frequently required to climb or balance, and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee occasionally lifts and/or moves up to 30 lbs. Works comfortably in a variable temperature environment. While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in regular office conditions, a laboratory environment, production, inside a cooler or in a warehouse.  This employee will be expected to work out of our Plymouth R&D center and also our Elk River production facility. 

Additional Requirements 

• Naturally curious, with an appreciation for ambiguity and the ability to embrace the “test and learn” mentality in pursuit of continuous improvement.    

• Alignment to our mission to spread kindness – JonnyPops is a kindness-based company 

• Versatility, flexibility, and a willingness to work within constantly changing priorities with enthusiasm. 
• This role will mainly be located in Elk River at the plant, but will be traveling to Plymouth when needed. 

JonnyPops offers a competitive benefits package which includes the following:

• Medical/Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• HSA
• FSA
• DCFSA
• Life & AD&D Insurance
• Short & Long Term Disability
• FTO/PTO
• EAP Programs
• Paid Holidays
• Employee Referral Program
• Sick & Safe Leave
• 401k
• Company Sponsored Meal Plan

* Hired candidates may be eligible to receive additional compensation in the form of bonuses and/or commissions.