What are the responsibilities and job description for the Research Assistant position at The Hershey Company?
Why Hershey:
At The Hershey Company, our culture is rooted in purpose and inspired by Milton Hershey’s enduring vision that business should create opportunity for others. Through our commitment to corporate philanthropy, we create positive impact by supporting communities, helping children thrive, and operating as a business for good. This includes our deep and longstanding partnership with Milton Hershey School, where we invest in education, workforce readiness, and hands-on engagement to help students succeed beyond the classroom. Supported by strategic grantmaking, product donations, cross-brand collaboration, and strong employee volunteerism, Hershey offers a place to work where making a difference—locally and globally—is part of how we do business every day.
Role Summary:
Reporting to the Senior Manager, Chocolate Product Development, the Research Assistant supports high- and medium-complexity product development projects at The Hershey Company’s Technical Center. This role provides hands-on laboratory and pilot plant support, contributes to project execution, and leads defined workstreams or small projects with guidance. The ideal candidate brings foundational food science knowledge, familiarity with manufacturing processes, and strong communication and problem-solving skills to help deliver high-quality chocolate and confectionery innovations.
Roles and Responsibilities:
The Hershey Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Minority/Female/Disabled/Protected Veterans.
You may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our online application process as a result of a disability.
You can request an accommodation via phone or email.
To request an accommodation via phone, please call 1 877-804-1794 and leave a voicemail with your contact information. You may also email a request for accommodation to ApplicationHelp@hersheys.com. Please be sure to include “Accommodation Needed” in the subject line. This will ensure that your email is routed to the appropriate contact who will handle your request.
At The Hershey Company, our culture is rooted in purpose and inspired by Milton Hershey’s enduring vision that business should create opportunity for others. Through our commitment to corporate philanthropy, we create positive impact by supporting communities, helping children thrive, and operating as a business for good. This includes our deep and longstanding partnership with Milton Hershey School, where we invest in education, workforce readiness, and hands-on engagement to help students succeed beyond the classroom. Supported by strategic grantmaking, product donations, cross-brand collaboration, and strong employee volunteerism, Hershey offers a place to work where making a difference—locally and globally—is part of how we do business every day.
Role Summary:
Reporting to the Senior Manager, Chocolate Product Development, the Research Assistant supports high- and medium-complexity product development projects at The Hershey Company’s Technical Center. This role provides hands-on laboratory and pilot plant support, contributes to project execution, and leads defined workstreams or small projects with guidance. The ideal candidate brings foundational food science knowledge, familiarity with manufacturing processes, and strong communication and problem-solving skills to help deliver high-quality chocolate and confectionery innovations.
Roles and Responsibilities:
- Support benchtop development and pilot plant testing by preparing ingredients, packaging materials, and equipment
- Operate standard laboratory and pilot plant equipment; collect, record, and tabulate experimental data
- Assist with pilot plant scale-up trials, including equipment setup, operation support, and post-test cleanup
- Support in-plant initiatives such as trials, sales sample production, and start-ups
- Identify project support needs and partner with project leaders on planning and execution
- Serve as Technical Center coordinator for the IngredentsNow program, managing internal ingredient ordering and issue resolution
- Execute purchase requests and support purchase orders for the Chocolate Product Development team, coordinating with Finance, Capital teams, and R&D leadership
- With minimal supervision, lead small projects or portions of larger projects, managing timelines, deliverables, and communication of results
- Coordinate and oversee temporary labor support as needed
- Collaborate closely with R&D and CI Scientists and Engineers, Pilot Plant Operations, and Finance and Capital partners
- Travel domestically up to 15% as required
- GED or High School Diploma with 3–4 years of related experience OR
- Bachelor’s degree in a non-related field with no prior experience
- Basic knowledge of food science, formulations, and manufacturing processes
- Ability to work hands-on with laboratory and pilot plant equipment
- Strong communication, organization, and problem-solving skills
The Hershey Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Minority/Female/Disabled/Protected Veterans.
You may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our online application process as a result of a disability.
You can request an accommodation via phone or email.
To request an accommodation via phone, please call 1 877-804-1794 and leave a voicemail with your contact information. You may also email a request for accommodation to ApplicationHelp@hersheys.com. Please be sure to include “Accommodation Needed” in the subject line. This will ensure that your email is routed to the appropriate contact who will handle your request.