Product Developer

Job Description

Job Description

Who We Are

At Nature's Touch, you're not just building a career; you're joining a trailblazing team that believes in the power of collaboration, diversity, and continuous learning.

Since 2004, we've been on a fast-growing journey from a small startup to a global leader in private-label frozen food manufacturing. With modern facilities across North America - including two plants in the U.S. and one in Mexico - we proudly supply millions of households worldwide. What drives us is simple: a commitment to quality, innovation, and sustainability.

We're shaping the future of frozen fruit - and we'd love for you to be part of that growth. At Nature's Touch, growth opportunities are everywhere!

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Senior Product Developer, the Product Developer is a new role supporting our growing innovation footprint at the Edwardsville, Kansas plant. You'll own the industrialization and commercialization of our light coating line, from recipe development through first production runs. You'll also be the technical checkpoint for incoming raw materials and finished goods, making sure every batch meets Nature's Touch quality and food safety standards. Working closely with Production, Quality, and the broader Product Development team, you'll bring new products to life and keep the coating platform running at its best.

???? Edwardsville, Kansas, USA | On-site work model

What You'll Do

Recipe Development & Innovation

• Develop, test, and refine new coating recipes (powders, oils, batters, wet coatings) to meet target sensory, functional, and cost profiles
• Run bench-top and pilot-scale trials to validate new formulations before scale-up
• Evaluate new ingredients, technologies, and coating techniques to expand the platform's capabilities
• Translate customer and market briefs into workable recipe concepts
• Document formulations, trial results, and specifications in a clear, reproducible format
• Set up, organize, and maintain your own lab space, equipment, and supplies to support recipe development and testing

Industrialization & Commercialization

• Own the industrialization of the light coating line, translating lab-approved recipes into scalable production processes
• Lead or support first productions and product launches for all products launched at the plant, not limited to the coating line, troubleshooting in real time as needed
• Develop and maintain SOPs, control plans, and technical documentation for new and existing products
• Partner with Production, Engineering, and Quality to resolve scale-up issues and optimize line performance
• Coordinate launch timelines with cross-functional stakeholders to ensure on-time, on-spec commercialization

Quality Review & Sampling

• Review and approve incoming raw materials against specifications before use in production
• Conduct quality reviews of finished goods to verify they meet sensory, physical, and food safety standards
• Flag and investigate non-conformances, working with Quality and suppliers on corrective actions
• Maintain accurate records to support traceability, audits, and continuous improvement
• Support and promote food safety and compliance programs (GMP, HACCP, SQF, etc.)
• Coordinate and ship product samples internally and externally, including customer requests
• Source competitor and benchmark products from local retailers for evaluation and comparison

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, Chemistry, or a related field
• 3-5 years of experience in product development, industrialization, or quality within food manufacturing
• Required: hands-on experience with coating technologies (powder, oil, batter, or wet coatings) and coating science (viscosity, adhesion, coverage, yield)
• Required: experience supporting production trials, first productions, or product launches
• Experience in frozen foods, confectionery, snacks, or other coating-intensive categories is an asset
• Solid understanding of GMP, food safety, and quality control principles, including reviewing raw material and finished goods specifications
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel; experience with TraceGains or Smartsheet is an asset
• Proven experience leveraging AI tools in your daily work to drive efficiency and better results
• Problem-solver with a strong leadership presence on the production floor
• Organized and detail-oriented, able to manage multiple priorities
• Clear communicator, comfortable working cross-functionally
• Fluent in English (written and verbal)

What to Expect

• Individual contributor role. This role has no direct reports. You'll partner with Production, Quality, Engineering, and the broader Product Development team.
• Plant-based. You'll split your time between the office, the lab, and the production floor.
• You'll manage your day-to-day work independently and coordinate regularly with a remote team across other plants and countries.
• Fast pace. You'll juggle multiple projects and priorities at once.

Working Conditions

• Full-time, permanent position, Monday to Friday, 40 hours per week
• Cold/frozen production environment; regularly lifting boxes up to 30 lbs
• Occasional travel (up to 25%) to support launches, trials, or supplier visits

Why Join Us

• Be part of a fast-growing global company with a collaborative, innovative culture
• Take ownership of a brand-new line and see your work go from recipe to shelf
• Work across every stage of product development, including recipe, industrialization, and quality. No two days are the same.
• Grow your career as the Kansas plant takes on more innovation projects

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