Food Scientist

TITLE: FOOD SCIENTIST

Department: Research and Development

Reports To: Sr. Manager of R&D Innovation

Location: Plant Travel required: Minimal; occasional travel may be required

Scope of Role:

We are looking for a Food scientist to join the Research and Development team. The primary responsibilities of this scientist will be to provide technical expertise and guidance related to the creation, launch and maintenance of our branded products.

Primary Roles

•  Actively drives product commercialization from concept to launch, supporting food service, retail, and private sector business channels.
•  Serves as the R&D point of contact, leading and coordinating technical activities for development projects in collaboration with the project manager to ensure all deliverables are achieved
•  Provides support to improve manufacturing efficiency, enhance quality, and assist in resolving customer inquiries and complaints.

Role And Responsibilities

•  Work with internal and external customers to deliver new product concepts that meet design specifications in a timely manner.
•  Plans, coordinates, and executes product development activities—including sample preparation, trial management, ingredient sourcing, and product maintenance—while supporting and leading departmental initiatives that drive continuous improvement across the development process, including plant trials and sample requests.
•  Accurately observes, records, analyzes and reports development data to meet project and customer objectives.
•  Supports adherence to development processes and compliance requirements while effectively utilizing systems, with a strong understanding of and alignment to Stage Gate principles for development projects.
•  Demonstrate good understanding of quality control and quality assurance methods and standards.
•  Ensures compliance with plant safety standards, regulatory requirements, and Good Manufacturing Practices, while maintaining the necessary competencies to support product legality, safety, and quality in alignment with the Quality Policy and GFSI standards.
•  Ability to work off shifts as needed. Some travel may be required.

Qualifications For Skills & Experience

•  Bachelor’s degree in food science, Food Processing/Engineering or related field
•  3 Plus years of product development experience in a food manufacturing company.
•  Technical knowledge of food manufacturing processes, equipment, packaging
•  Knowledge of Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance principles related to formulation.
•  Proven leadership abilities include accountability, resilience, and a strong focus on team success.
•  Ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to a wide range of intellectual and practical problems.
•  Demonstrated sense of urgency and sound judgment in a fast-paced environment.
•  Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively engage audiences ranging from staff to executive leadership.
•  Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills using data to draw conclusions and implement solutions
•  Ability to work independently or as part of a team to accomplish organization goals.
•  Proficiency using a personal computer (PC) and related software, ideally Microsoft Office Software and Tools.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Elmwood Park, NJ.

The pay range for this position is $86900.00 - $110000.00/yr.

Annual salary with annual merit increases and incentive bonuses. Will also have access to PTO, 401K packages, and full benefits.

This is a hybrid position in Elmwood Park,NJ.

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 13, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.

Salary : $86,900 - $110,000