Senior Food Scientist

Senior Food ScientistThe Senior Food Scientist is a leading member of the Product Development and a cross-functional team responsible for delivering the initiatives, business plan, and objectives of High Liner Foods Inc. The Senior Food Scientist applies scientific, culinary and engineering principles in research & development, production technology, quality control, processing and utilization of ingredients to design, develop and produce new and/or improved products.The Senior Food Scientist is a Research & Development Subject Matter Expert for the organization and acts as a mentorship, coaching and training role within the PD Department.Essential Duties and ResponsibilitiesProduct DevelopmentLeads the development of new products and/or product optimization through HLF project management system, including: Gold standard developmentFormulation developmentBench top preparation and testingSensory evaluation / product cuttings with internal cross-functional team membersSample preparation for various activitiesCustomer presentationSpecification developmentCooking instruction developmentOrganoleptic shelf-life studiesCollaborates with Sales and/or Marketing to define project parameters based on customer input or request.Leverages vendor relationships to deliver new products and optimized products on time, within cost and quality.Leads the coordination, design and execution of line test and first production processes.Provides technical expertise for all internal and external customers.Leads the development and training of SOPs for the PD team and cross-functional team members where applicable.Acts as a mentor or coach for R&D team members.Continuous ImprovementLeads problem solving with Purchasing and Procurement teams regarding ingredient and raw material substitutions and cost-saving initiatives.Leads and collaborates with Quality Assurance, Production, Purchasing, Procurement and Engineering to identify root causes and solutions for quality issues.Provides approval for modifications to existing product formulas and/or processes to improve productivity, quality and cost.Operational ExcellenceEducates and ensures accurate laboratory and project work documentation.Leads R&D meetings to update and report project status and issues to the broader team and leads corporate training sessions as needed.Leads and collaborates with the Commercialization Team through the stage-gate process.Recommends and influences process improvements within R&D and cross-functional team members to drive efficiency and profitability.Acts as an SME on ingredients and researches and recommends new ingredient opportunities.Collaborates with Process Engineer and other SMEs to be a leader in knowledge of food manufacturing processes and equipment as they apply to the seafood and food industry.QualificationsMinimum 5 years of experience and a B.S. in Food Science or a related degree Seafood and value-added coating knowledge is a plus.Culinary training is a plus.Knowledge of sensory testing is an asset.Experience in coaching and mentoring team members.Leadership experience in various environments, including but not exclusive to manufacturing and processing.Able to handle multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.Excellent time management skills.Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.Self-motivated, capable of working with little supervision, and eager to learn and grow.Proficient in MS Office.Working ConditionsThis position is located at High Liner Headquarters. It involves daily or frequent contact with satellite R&D groups, operations, business channel managers, sales, procurement, purchasing, regulatory and quality assurance managers, as well as external contact with suppliers. The position requires frequent and occasional travel, domestically and internationally.Physical Requirements / AllergensThe physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions. The employee must walk, sit, talk, listen, and reach with hands and arms; use hands to handle, operate, and feel objects, tools, or controls; occasionally operate a motor vehicle to travel to off-site meetings; and have sufficient visual acuity for driving, using a digital camera, and other office equipment. Specific vision abilities required include close vision and focus adjustment. Hearing and speaking clearly is also required.Must be able to lift up to 25 lbs and stand for extended periods of time. Allergens found inside the plant include fish, shellfish, nuts, eggs, wheat, soy, milk, and coconut.TravelNorth American travel to visit suppliers and manufacturing locations. Travel requirement is 20–30%.BenefitsCompetitive salaryHealth, dental & vision coveragePay-for-performance incentivesEmployee & family assistance programsWellness programsRetirement planningSupplemental parental leaveDisability supportFamily-friendly flex policiesVolunteer hoursLearning and mentorship opportunitiesSafety-focused work environmentEqual Opportunity EmployerEqual Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities. This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.J-18808-Ljbffr