Food Scientist

Food Scientist

FOOD TECHNOLOGIST III

Glanbia 

Join this dynamic team focused on delivering better nutrition for every step of life’s journey 

The Opportunity 

We are seeking a skilled and experienced Food Technologist to join our team in a pivotal mid-level role. In this position, you will independently and collaboratively drive the development of powders, tablets, capsules, ready-to-drink, and ready-to-eat products from initial concept through to successful execution.

The ideal candidate will possess a proven track record of bringing new concepts to market, with particular expertise in formulating powdered beverages. You will need to manage multiple projects efficiently, demonstrating strong critical thinking, organizational, and communication skills.

Our organization values trust, honesty, integrity, and equity, and we expect all team members to uphold these principles in their work.

Please Note: This lab-based role involves exposure to all food allergens (milk, soy, nuts, peanuts, wheat, egg, etc.) and includes tasting a variety of product types. If you are driven by innovation and ready to contribute to our success, we encourage you to apply.

• Formulate and Develop food and supplement products, including powdered and ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages, ready-to-eat (RTE) items, capsules, and tablets.
• Innovate and create prototypes by experimenting with diverse formulations and flavor profiles. Transform initial concepts into products that excel in taste, functionality, and quality.
• Reformulate products to maintain compliance and meet customer expectations, ensuring our products lead in quality and regulatory adherence.
• Organizes sensory panels and conducts rigorous product testing to ensure we deliver a great tasting product meeting Sensory Action Standard.
• Assess and validate ingredient options and vendors to ensure they meet our quality and regulatory standards. Build strong relationships with key suppliers to secure raw materials for our products.
• Inputs raw material specifications and formulas into product development software.
• Estimate preliminary product costs, considering every aspect from ingredient sourcing to manufacturing.
• Develop precise nutritional and supplement facts panels, ensuring compliance with all relevant regulations and standards.
• Oversee pilot and scale-up manufacturing runs. Manage the transition from lab-scale experiments to full-scale production, resolving any issues promptly to guarantee consistent, high-quality outcomes.
• Uphold and enforce rigorous safety procedures and protocols throughout the development process. Set the standard for safety and compliance, ensuring a secure and efficient working environment for the team.
• Direct and execute comprehensive analytical testing of raw materials and factory trials.
• Validate that all formulations meet performance and stability criteria, ensuring the highest product quality.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to junior team members as required.
• Potentially oversee one to two direct reports: Collaborate with the line manager to establish SMART goals for direct reports, aligning them with key company initiatives. Conduct discussions and reviews of Personal Development Plans (PDPs) with direct reports.
• Travel Expectations: 25%
• Accurately document all aspects of the formulation process, including variables tested, results obtained, and product stability. Enter detailed information into lab notebooks and the Formula Management System to maintain a comprehensive record of product development activities.
• Produces formula cost information; works with purchasing, finance, and sales teams to help establish final product pricing; initiates new item documents and set-up for all product introductions.
• Lead and guide discussions across various departments, demonstrating flexibility and adaptability during brainstorming and troubleshooting sessions. Foster a culture that emphasizes solution-focused problem-solving.
• Work closely with the Regulatory team to generate compliant Supplement/Nutrition Facts panels and ingredient listings for product packaging and artwork. Ensure accuracy through meticulous proofreading.
• Provide expert advice on and review raw material specifications to ensure they meet required standards and specifications.
• Provides leadership within a team environment, encouraging collaboration, innovation, and effective communication among team members.
• Actively contribute to innovation, troubleshooting, and brainstorming sessions within the team. Bring forward new ideas and solutions to enhance product development and processes.
• Identify and overcome barriers to successful innovation by developing and maintaining strong relationships with key departments, including customers, manufacturing, supply chain, accounting, quality, and purchasing teams.
• Gain a deep understanding of customer needs, business requirements, and overall business strategy to ensure alignment and successful project outcomes.

The Skills you will bring to the team 

• Bachelors of Science degree in Food Science or related field or equivalent experience
• 3-5 years of relevant experience working in the food, beverage, or dietary supplement industry; prior development and knowledge of dietary supplements is an advantage
• Expertise in Product Development: Proven in-depth knowledge developing powders and at least one of the following formats is a must; Bars/RTE, Tabs/Caps and/or RTDs.
• Powder experience taking products from bench through first production with a basic understanding of one or more of the following blending techniques; Ribbon, Paddle, and V blending.
• Additional experience with Ready-to-Drink (RTD) or Ready-to-Eat (RTE) products, with proficiency in one or more processing methods such as HTST, UHT, Retort, Tunnel Pasteurization, Extruded, Slabbed, or Deposited Foods.
• Flavor Systems: Deep knowledge of flavor systems is essential. You must be adept at troubleshooting and resolving flavor-related challenges with ease.
• Lab and Production Processes: Thorough understanding of daily lab and production processes. Expertise in raw material handling and stability is required. SAP experience is preferred.
• Passionate and organized: Bring enthusiasm and positive energy to your role, consistently adhering to GMP lab and factory guidelines while staying impeccably organized.
• Project management: Efficiently manage multiple projects, from ideation through to commercialization, ensuring timely and successful outcomes.
• Exceptional communicator: Possess outstanding communication skills, making complex ideas clear and engaging for all team members.
• Innovative Problem-Solver: Demonstrate creativity and excitement in managing multiple projects. Proactively think outside the box to deliver innovative solutions and drive team success.
• Deals with ambiguity and thrives in dynamic environments: Excel in a fast-paced, hands-on setting with a proactive attitude. Embrace ambiguity and lead with enthusiasm, maintaining focus and control under pressure.
• Customer-Centric: Anticipate and understand customer needs, identifying and addressing potential issues early. Ensure clear communication and alignment across teams and with internal stakeholders.
• Leadership and Development: Manage and mentor 1 to 2 direct reports, fostering their growth and development.
• Others: Demonstrate meticulous attention to detail and organization while following GMP lab and factory guidelines. Provide expert advice on development processes and parameters.
• Relentless perseverance: Shows determination and energy, overcoming resistance and setbacks to complete tasks and projects.
• Approachable and insightful: early knower getting informal and incomplete information in time to do something about it.
• Proven Innovator: Proven track record of developing new concepts and successfully launching products to market.
• Adaptable and composed: Works well in a fast-paced, hands-on environment, maintaining composure and control under pressure.
• Independent formulator: Ability to independently formulate products based on customer requirements, identifying potential issues and promptly alerting managers or customers.
• Learning and Influencing: Recognize and create learning opportunities, influencing others positively to foster growth and improvement.
• Business acumen: Demonstrate awareness of how strategies and tactics work in the marketplace and is knowledgeable about the competition
• Decisive and judicious: Make informed decisions based on a blend of analysis, experience, and sound judgment.

If you think you have what it takes, but don't necessarily meet every single point on the job description, please apply! 

Where and how you will work 

The opportunity will be based in Downers Grove, IL with hybrid working arrangements available through our Smart working model which allows you a greater choice in how you work and live, giving you a better work-life balance. 

Compensation

Compensation for roles at Glanbia varies depending on a wide range of factors including but not limited to the specific office location, role, skill set and level of experience.  Glanbia provides a reasonable range of compensation for roles that may be hired in IL. This range may not be applicable to other locations. Factors that could be used to determine your actual salary may include your specific skills, years of experience and comparison to current employees already in this role. The typical candidate is hired below midpoint of the range.  The annual salary for IL based employees for this role is $85K- $90K with an annual bonus.

What we would like to offer you! 

The opportunity to develop your career on a global stage, continuous learning through an on-demand learning platform, and a competitive compensation package including staff discounts, generous family leave policy, health & dental plan, competitive salary, 401K. 

About Glanbia 

The Glanbia Group comprises three divisions: Glanbia Performance Nutrition, Glanbia Nutritional's, and Joint Ventures. Collectively and with our partners we offer an incredible breadth of expertise in nutrition. We employ a team of 6,000 people, work with global food and beverage companies, and sell our award-winning and market-leading products in 130 countries worldwide. 

At Glanbia, we celebrate diversity, because we know that our individual strengths make us stronger together. We welcome and encourage interest from a variety of candidates, we will give your application consideration, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender perception or identity, national origin, age, marital status, protected veteran status, or disability status. 

At Glanbia, our culture celebrates individuality, knowing that together we are more.