What are the responsibilities and job description for the R&D Food Scientist position at VanderHouwen?
Status: Direct Hire
Job Title: R&D Food Scientist
Location: Onsite in McMinnville, Oregon
Salary: $75,000-$100,000
About the company:
We are a company dedicated to creating high-quality, nutrient-rich bars designed to fuel your body and empower your lifestyle. Our bars are crafted with carefully selected ingredients to provide convenient, delicious, and sustainable nutrition for those who are always on the go. Whether you're looking for a healthy snack between meetings, a pre-workout boost, or a satisfying post-workout recovery, our bars are designed to meet the needs of active individuals. We focus on blending wholesome, clean ingredients that nourish your body and provide lasting energy throughout the day.
Our products co-build their reputation of having best-in-class protein bars in terms of taste, texture, and quality throughout the shelf life, resulting in consumer desire and high sales.
With our full-service solution, we bring your ideas to the shelves. Constantly pushing ourselves, our clients, and our creativity, we instinctively aim for better, healthier, and tastier.
R&D Food Scientist
Our client is seeking a curious and hands-on R&D Food Scientist to support the development and optimization of innovative food products, particularly within the confectionery and nutrition bar space. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a collaborative environment, has a deep understanding of food science and regulatory compliance, and enjoys seeing ideas move from concept to shelf.
This role is onsite in McMinnville, Oregon.
R&D Food Scientist Responsibilities:
- Lead research and development efforts for new products from concept through commercialization, including formulation and ingredient sourcing.
- Manage multiple R&D projects simultaneously, meeting timelines and maintaining clear communication with cross-functional teams.
- Conduct sensory evaluations and troubleshoot production challenges related to product quality or performance.
- Optimize existing product formulations for cost efficiency, ingredient functionality, and manufacturing scalability.
- Collaborate with Sales, Quality Assurance, and Production teams to provide technical support and resolve product-related issues.
- Stay informed on food labeling and regulatory requirements, ensuring compliance and maintaining accurate documentation.
- Support procurement efforts by sourcing and evaluating new ingredients.
- Maintain and update ingredient and product documentation systems.
R&D Food Scientist Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Food Science or a related discipline, with 2–5 years of relevant experience in the food industry.
- Familiarity with Genesis R&D or similar nutritional labeling software is a plus.
- Strong understanding of food ingredients, nutritional principles, and label regulations.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with meticulous attention to detail.
- Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and work independently with minimal supervision.
- Adept in Microsoft Office; comfort with digital documentation and labeling systems.
- Strong problem-solving, sensory evaluation, and time management skills.
- Comfortable working in both office and food lab environments, including exposure to allergens.
- Physical ability to lift up to 50 pounds occasionally and conduct hands-on lab and production work.
Salary : $75,000 - $100,000
