Sr. Food Scientist

Company: Sigma
Location: Oklahoma City
Posted on: May 15, 2022

Job Description:

Join Us!
* This role is open to nationwide candidates (relocation offered, OKC metro) AND to hybrid/remote candidates residing in Oklahoma, Western Arkansas, Northern TX or Southern KS.
Are you a creative food developer or designer? Can you manage and execute projects for product development/formulation, batch testing, scale-up and commercialization of new products? Can you renovate existing products? Can you take ambiguous information and develop concepts, formulas and specifications? Are you also technical enough to oversee and manage product testing regulatory, labeling and nutritional compliance activities? If this sounds like you, keep reading---
Position Summary
Manage and execute Foodservice projects for product development/formulation, batch testing, scale-up and commercialization of new products; and product and process improvement of existing products. Develop product specifications, manage sensory science activities, and oversee product regulatory, labeling and nutritional compliance.
Essential Job Functions
Manage product development and approval processes which include experimental design, concept definition, identifying business needs, Benchtop creation of Gold Standards, Pilot Plant validations, and Production Test Runs
Identify customer needs and translate these into new product opportunities in collaboration with sales/business management/marketing partners and customers to, provide technical assistance to the sales team and customers; collaborate with external stakeholders, including but not limited external chefs/scientists, act as the technical expert and representative to the customer; translate customer ideas into a viable product
Plan, schedule, communicate and coordinate raw materials and plant schedules; develop project roadmaps and timelines
Gather, document and analyze test results; recommend and build production parameters
Create and maintain manufacturing specifications and technical documentation following internal processes; ensure optimum product quality at the best throughput is delivered. Enforce and troubleshoot product specifications
Conduct research on regulations, nutritional requirements, and collaboration with the Regulatory department to facilitate USDA label approvals; ensure products are designed on target and within regulatory compliance through the label review process
Create and maintain continuous improvement initiatives through optimum processing procedures, quality systems, and regulatory oversight
Identify, modify and implement short and long-term initiatives/programs/products including but not limited to, innovation, renovation, cost engineering, and brand maintenance of experimental and commercial products and hybrids in collaborate with internal stakeholders
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Meat Science or Food Science or four (4) years' equivalent experience
Four (4) years' experience in cooked meat products, whole muscle, restructured and emulsions
Preferred Qualifications
Advanced degree (Master's or PhD) in meat science or food science
Four (4) years' culinary/foodservice product development from a manufacturing and restaurant point of view; with a focus on processed meats
Two (2) years' experience in developing relationships with business clients
Four (4) years' experience in developing relationships with business clients
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Experience in developing technical and interpersonal relationships
Ability to self start, create best practices and find creative solutions to potential roadblocks.
Understanding of ingredient functionality and formulas
Familiarity with multiple proteins (pork, beef, poultry, etc.)
Understanding of USDA regulations and labeling policies; and use of Genesis nutritional software
Understanding of Experimental Design
Ability to influence and negotiate with internal and external stakeholders
Ability to identify complex problems, review information to develop and evaluate options then implement solutions in a dynamic and ambiguous environment
Demonstrated ability to communicate across all levels of the organization; must be able to clearly articulate technical information to a non-technical audience both verbally and in writing
Ability to build professional relationships with cross functional teams while facilitating a collaborative environment both internally and externally
Possess troubleshooting and organizational skills and apply them to changing priorities
Good knowledge of Microsoft Office, including skills with Outlook, Word and Excel
Environmental/Working Conditions
Able to work in a facility with varying temperatures (34-- F to 95-- F) for prolonged periods of time.
Ability to lift and move up to 50 pounds
Ability to work in wet and cold environments for prolonged periods of time
Sense of smell and taste
Position will require 'officing' out of our Seminole, OK R&D facility 2-3 days per week (average)
Ability to travel up to 50% of them time, remote candidates who travel to Seminole total may exceed 50%.
Physical Requirements
Usual plant environment with frequent sitting, walking, and standing, and occasional climbing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, and balancing. Frequent use of eye, hand, and finger coordination enabling the use of machinery and equipment. Oral and auditory capacity enabling interpersonal communication as well as communication through automated devices such as the telephone. The noise level in the work environment ranges from normal office levels to loud levels due to equipment and machinery use.
Normal kitchen and office environments; desk work, cooking, cleaning

Keywords: Sigma, Oklahoma City , Sr. Food Scientist, Other , Oklahoma City, Oklahoma