Research & Development Associate Scientist

SHIFT:

• Day Shift, Monday through Friday. 
• Subject to change according to business needs. 

BENEFITS:

• We are delighted to offer a comprehensive benefits package that encompasses Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts, Supplemental Insurance, Vacation, Holiday Pay, Personal Time Off (PTO), and a 401(k) plan with a company match. Eligibility and waiting periods may apply.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The R&D Associate Scientist will work in a brand-new, state-of-the-art Milk Innovation Center (MIC) that focuses on bringing innovation and continuous improvement to milk ingredients produced by Idaho Milk Products, including fresh cream, milk protein concentrates/isolates, and milk permeate powders. The R&D Associate Scientist is involved in researching, formulating, and developing new dairy and food products using IMP’s ingredients to meet the commercial goals of the business. This position is also responsible for new process and product developments, current process, and product improvements, conducting lab scale, bench top, and pilot plant experiments, commercialization studies for new products, conducting milk ingredient applications in food products, and performing analytical work. This position interacts closely with the Production, Quality, and Sales & Marketing functions.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS, DUTIES AND PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Conduct applications work using Idaho Milk Product's dairy ingredient portfolio in the areas of high-protein ready-to-drink beverages, protein bars, yogurts, ready-to-mix powders, bakery, confectionery, and other food applications as per the business direction. 
• Able to follow new market and ingredients based on consumer trends and implement in application work. 
• Create innovative product formulations, processes, and develop analytical methods to deliver current and future customer requirements. 
• Oversee and conduct hands-on internal benchtop and pilot-scale trials and collaborate with external R&D and educational facilities to compliment our capabilities.
• Meticulously capture trial data and maintain records. 
• Able to process data and information and provide a meaningful conclusion of experiments. 
• Prepare presentations and reports to communicate results. 
• Understand regulatory requirements and work to ensure compliance. 
• Develop advanced testing methods to facilitate analysis of our new products developed to help customers troubleshoot their formulation efforts and effective product launches. 
• Independently plan, manage, and complete research projects to design, develop new and improve the existing ingredient portfolio.
• Manage and oversee key R&D technical efforts such as sensory, shelf-life testing, label claims, product specifications, product/packaging improvements, etc.
• Coordinate with Sales and Marketing, Customer Service, and QA to provide special analysis and technical assistance as requested by customers. 
• Standardize and supply liquid & powder ingredients to current and potential future customers.
• Keep track of the ingredients and supplies inventory levels to complete customer and internal trials on time.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

POSITION SPECIFICATIONS AND QUALIFICATIONS:

Education & Experience

• Required: A BS or MS degree in Dairy Science, Food Science, Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, or other closely related field
• Required: BS with 2-4 years or MS with 1-2 years of dairy plant experience/ bench top laboratory, or pilot plant experience working with milk and milk ingredients.
• Preferred: 
  • Knowledge of milk ingredients chemistry, functionality, and applications in milk product processing.
  • Experience with HTST, UHT, and Retort processing for milk beverages.
  • Experience solving problems, analyzing information, highlighting relevant information, and suggesting appropriate actions.

Skills:

• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively to achieve defined goals on time.
• Excellent MS Office skills including Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint. Ability to demonstrate these skills.
• Capable writer and oral communicator. Able to draft reports and prepare/deliver presentations.
• Well-built skills in organization, prioritization, and time management.
• Creative, self-starter who enjoys building systems from the ground up.
• Highly self-motivated individual who is comfortable working individually and can manage multiple tasks and projects efficiently within the context of a fast-paced, busy environment.
• Ability to establish good relations with all levels of employees. 
   

Physical Requirements:

• Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction. Picking, pinching, typing, or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand or arm as in handling.
• Walking: occasional moving about on foot to accomplish some tasks.
• Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word.  Includes activities in which they must accurately, loudly, or quickly convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers.
• Subject to up to at least 92db’s. Must be able to lift up to 50lbs occasionally.
• Stand for long periods of time.

To apply for this position, please visit our website at www.idahomilkproducts.com