Demo

R&D Scientist

Berner Food & Beverage, LLC
Dakota, IL Full Time
POSTED ON 10/27/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 12/26/2026

Description

Great Opportunity in Research and Development with a GREAT COMPANY! Be part of the employer of choice.


Berner Food & Beverage is committed to ensuring the highest standards of food safety and quality for our customers' brands. We foster a culture that promotes a safe, productive, inclusive, respectful, and meaningful work environment for our employees, instilling a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.


Berner Food & Beverage is currently seeking an R&D Scientist.


Summary: The R&D Scientist will formulate milk/dairy-based beverage products and/or cheese products and assist in the management of the development from prototype through commercialization. The R&D Scientist will assist in developing customer specifications, nutrition facts panels, and ingredient statements for products, and ensure compliance with all FDA standards of identity and label-related claims. Builds relationships with customers and works across functions to execute production trials and testing. Provides technical support to Operations and customers, as needed.


Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned to meet business needs.

• Develop new products, optimize existing products, and adapt customer formulas.

• Produce benchtop samples and evaluate for shipment to customers.

• Set up formulas and processes for plant trials and production.

• Work cross-functionally with Operations, Procurement, and Quality to conduct pilot and production trials for customer and thermal process testing.

• Provide timely and appropriate product information to support customer requirements.

• Create product specifications, ingredient statements, and Nutrition Facts panels, assuring products meet appropriate FDA/USDA requirements for shelf-stable products.

• Leverage outside resources to recommend new technology platforms to support new beverage product development.

• Maintain beverage lab and pilot plant, overseeing ingredient inventories, supplies, equipment cleaning & maintenance.

• Provide technical support and leadership to Operations.

• Learn and develop knowledge of Berner’s thermal processing procedures.

• Assist with thermal processing studies in production retorts, under the direction of management and Process Authority.

• Ensure documentation of formulas and product parameters to meet LACF requirements.


Education and Experience

• Minimum B.S. in Food Science, Nutrition, or a related field. Master's preferred in Dairy Science

• Preferred 1-5 years of food product development and commercialization experience

• Solid understanding of emulsions, milk & whey proteins, food safety, and allergens

• Retort knowledge/experience desired

• Ability to discriminate flavors

• Demonstrates initiative and ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment

• Excellent relationship skills and ability to work directly with customers and sales

• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal)

• Demonstrated ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously

• Excellent project management and organizational skills

• Ability to maintain and operate laboratory and pilot equipment

• Ability to work in a production environment and support production trials in a 24/7 operation

• Good troubleshooting and problem-solving skills

• Strong in Microsoft Excel and navigating web-based systems


Pay Range: 65,000.00 to 85, 000.00 (based on experience). Full medical, dental, vision, 401k benefits offered.


Note: This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills, or working conditions associated with this job.


All job duties and responsibilities outlined in this job description must be performed onsite at our designated workplace location. This position does not offer remote, hybrid, or or telecommuting work options. Applicants must be able and willing to work in person as a condition of employment.

Salary.com Estimation for R&D Scientist in Dakota, IL
$85,002 to $119,155
If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution. Compensation Planning
Enhance your organization's compensation strategy with salary data sets that HR and team managers can use to pay your staff right. Surveys & Data Sets

What is the career path for a R&D Scientist?

Sign up to receive alerts about other jobs on the R&D Scientist career path by checking the boxes next to the positions that interest you.
Income Estimation: 
$86,269 - $122,182
Income Estimation: 
$101,791 - $133,116
Income Estimation: 
$87,704 - $110,366
Income Estimation: 
$120,989 - $162,093
Income Estimation: 
$74,806 - $91,633
Income Estimation: 
$71,928 - $87,026
Income Estimation: 
$145,337 - $174,569
Income Estimation: 
$59,061 - $75,831
Income Estimation: 
$73,226 - $98,223
Income Estimation: 
$77,489 - $103,937

Sign up to receive alerts about other jobs with skills like those required for the R&D Scientist.

Click the checkbox next to the jobs that you are interested in.

  • Customer Insights Skill

    • Income Estimation: $62,807 - $74,145
    • Income Estimation: $63,819 - $84,531
  • Food Quality Inspection Skill

    • Income Estimation: $57,821 - $82,077
    • Income Estimation: $65,746 - $91,005
Employees: Get a Salary Increase
View Core, Job Family, and Industry Job Skills and Competency Data for more than 15,000 Job Titles Skills Library

Job openings at Berner Food & Beverage, LLC

  • Berner Food & Beverage, LLC Dakota, IL
  • Description Previous Forklift Experience Required: Operating a Forklift and having an understanding of the forklift. Primary Duties & Responsibilities : 1.... more
  • 1 Day Ago

  • Berner Food & Beverage, LLC Dakota, IL
  • Description Great Opportunity with the Employer of Choice - Berner Food & Beverage! Come grow your career and be part of a dynamic team. Great benefits, co... more
  • 1 Day Ago


Not the job you're looking for? Here are some other R&D Scientist jobs in the Dakota, IL area that may be a better fit.

  • Kerry Group Beloit, WI
  • About Kerry Kerry is the world's leading taste and nutrition company for the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. Every day we partner with custom... more
  • 1 Month Ago

  • Syngenta Seeds Malta, IL
  • Company Description At Syngenta Seeds Field Crops, we're shaping the future of agriculture and empowering farmers to meet the ever-growing demand for food ... more
  • 19 Days Ago

AI Assistant is available now!

Feel free to start your new journey!