About Tropicana Brands Group

Tropicana Brands Group represents an exciting fusion of some of the world's most beloved and up-and-coming brands in the juice category, including Tropicana, Naked, KeVita, Izze, Dole, Copella and Punica. Tropicana Brands Group was established in 2022 as a joint venture between PAI Partners and PepsiCo. Our new company blends the best of two worlds: one steeped in industry-leading expertise and the heritage of prestige juice brands, and another rooted in a true entrepreneurial, agile mindset.

With a global footprint of more than 2,000 associates that spans North America and Europe, we are proud of our industry-leading capabilities in areas that include innovation, R&D, manufacturing, distribution, sales, marketing, and nutrition expertise.

The company is focused on the vision to quench the world's thirst for more delight and nourishment, while continuing to build upon the many important diversity, sustainability, local community, and philanthropic activities that our people and brands have historically supported.

Key Responsibilities:

Tropicana Brands Group R&D is looking for a highly qualified Associate Principal Process Engineer to lead consumer-driven innovation and productivity projects for brands including Tropicana, Naked, KeVita and IZZE. The ideal candidate will be a critical thinker with exceptional communication, influencing and relationship management skills who thrives in a fast-paced environment. Incumbent is expected to have a core understanding of ’established process technology’ in order to implement as well as expand capabilities beyond existing technologies. Further, the incumbent is expected to concurrently manage multiple project elements and a variety of project activities.

At TBG R&D, we foster a safe space for entrepreneurial ideation, while also practicing radical candor and showing respect for what each R&D function brings to our organization. As a part of the nimble R&D team, you will be given opportunities to stretch, lead, and learn that many other larger organizations do not offer.

As part of an entrepreneurial culture, the ideal candidate will possess an ownership mindset and a focus on the consumer. Comfort with ambiguity, a focus on agility, and appropriate risk-taking is a must. Strong R&D and cross-functional collaboration and communication skills required. Successful candidates thrive in an environment of fast-paced, consumer-driven product development. If you are looking to act like an entrepreneur in a multibillion-dollar company with well-established and loved brands, TBG is the ideal place for you.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Utilize scientific methods to develop knowledge that creates business opportunities that support the company strategic objectives
• Design and execute experiments, and analyze and interpret data to make sound technical recommendations on product and process issues
• Provide technical risk assessment and perspectives related to new product & process development
• Leverage external and internal experts for key analytical, sensory and consumer research
• Participate as an active member of cross-functional business development teams comprised of individuals from a variety of disciplines, including Marketing, Purchasing, Engineering and other groups
• Utilize innovative and critical thinking skills to design solutions for organizational challenges.
• Tackle ambiguous problems to determine and prioritize business strategies.
• Utilize outstanding teamwork, collaboration, communication, and leadership skills to deliver cross-functional projects on time and on budget

Requirements:

• B.S. in Chemical Engineering or related scientific field; advanced degree preferred
• Must be located in Chicago, IL or willing to relocate to Chicago, IL for the duration of employment
• Willingness to adapt and thrive in a blended work environment, seamlessly transitioning between remote work and in-office operations as required 
• 5 years of experience in consumer product process engineering, beverage experience a plus
• Ability and interest to work in laboratory, pilot plant and manufacturing scale environments
• Strong project management skills required for developing project timelines with multiple cross-functional touchpoints, including management of project budgets. Includes p.m. systems (e.g., End to End Stagegate, SAP Product Lifecycle Management, Matrix One, MS Project)
• Proven track record in maintaining good working relationships with cross functional business partners (Marketing, Supply Chain, Sales, etc.)
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and manage risk in a fast-paced environment with ambiguity and change.
• Possess engineering skills to perform experiments to scale up laboratory qualified formulations and processes and establish viable large scale process procedures for application in manufacturing processes
• Ability to plan and execute trials and testing to support small-scale product preparations for internal testing, small consumer testing, and process validation
• Demonstrate skills in experimental design and statistics to identify alternative processes and validate preferred approaches to meet business and project objectives. Proficiency with Designs of Experiment a plus.
• Ability to work with suppliers and internal teams to document preferred processes and verify supplier can execute against requirements
• Perform experiments to scale up laboratory qualified formulations and processes and establish viable manufacturing processes.
• Plan and execute trials and testing to support small-scale product preparations for internal testing, small consumer testing, and process validation.
• Provide technical support at contract/custom manufacturer(s) during product development and at start-up to ensure appropriate process scale-up and assure technical requirements are met.
• Author process instructions through collaboration with manufacturing engineers internally and externally.
• Sound knowledge and demonstrated application of fundamental Chemical Engineering principles, including strong problem-solving ability.
• Stay in the forefront of product, packaging, and process innovations and trends so that new technologies can be leveraged
• Able to work on projects independently as well as plan and coordinate multiple projects/activities to address key program needs.
• Must be open to 15-25% domestic travel

Benefits Overview:

TBG is pleased to offer you a comprehensive benefits package which includes medical, dental, vision, company provided life, STD and LTD insurance. In addition, you may also elect to participate in voluntary life, accident, hospital, and critical illness coverages.

TBG offers a 401(k) plan administered through Fidelity which allows you to contribute pre- or post-tax dollars and invest as you choose to save for retirement. TBG makes employer matching contributions to your 401(k) account and will contribute 100% of the first 3% and an additional 50% of the next 2% for a total of a 4% company contribution.