As employees of a farmer-owned cooperative, we come to work every day trying to honor the tireless effort and care these farming families put in every day, all day, 365 days a year. Our farmer-owners tend to think in generations, with some of our farms being run by the same families for over a century. We carry this approach into our business, knowing that each and every one of us makes a difference in allowing these generational traditions to continue, taking pride in knowing that we nourish our friends, neighbors, nation, and even the world with healthy and delicious dairy products. Our products include milk, flavored milk, yogurt, dip, sour cream, cottage cheese, Italian cheese, and ice cream mix marketed under the Upstate Farms®, Bison®, Milk for Life®, and Intense Milk® brands.

Job purpose

The Research and Development Food Scientist III is an important member of the R&D Team,

specializing in formulation, production, and packaging of shelf stable, thermal processed beverages for major branded food and beverage companies. The Food Scientist III is responsible for creation of product processes and formulations and will collaborate with a cross functional team including operations, sales, marketing, purchasing, quality assurance, engineering, and R&D staff to ensure commercialized products achieve adequate thermal process treatment for shelf-stability. Position requires broad-based scientific skills with product development expertise and manufacturing scale-up.

Duties and responsibilities

• Perform all aspects of research and development activities to innovate, develop, and commercialize great tasting thermal processed beverages from concept to successful launch to post launch optimization.
• Knowledge and understanding of the appropriate design and methods of conducting studies relating to thermal processing of food including heat penetration, temperature distribution studies, process validation and verification studies.
• Design and manage experiments; Collect and interpret data and provide technical support.
• Responsible for formulation, ingredient, packaging, and processing changes and conducts testing for Thermal Processes design to ensure all products are commercially sterile.
• Responsible for developing preliminary nutritional's for a limited selection of products.
• Investigate and assess new scientific methods related to aseptic and/or thermal processing.
• Manage research projects for quality improvements, cost optimization, and process improvement and provide technical and project leadership.
• Act as liaison between R&D and internal/external customers to resolve problems, provide technical support, and develop actionable work plans.
• Collaborate with manufacturing colleagues and manufacturing technology to optimize product and thermal processes and applying other scientific methods related to aseptic and/or thermal processing.

Qualifications

• Creative thinking and problem-solving skills. Energized by a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work independently without supervision but with support from management and team members.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, time management, and communication skills.
• Effective team player with ability to collaborate efficiently and share information within teams.
• Possesses basic understanding in regulatory, nutritional, product safety and quality requirements relevant to functional responsibilities.
• Ability to troubleshoot problems and offer solutions involving products, ingredients, and processes.
• High level of integrity and passion for food and food industry.
• Prolific computer skills, particularly Microsoft Office; Experience using Genesis preferred.
• Effective writing, presentation, interpersonal, and communication skills and able to lead cross functional teams.
• Ability to travel approximately 20% of the time as needed, which can vary throughout the year.

Experience and Education

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Food Science, Nutrition, Biological Sciences, Food Engineering, or related field.
• 5 years of experience in beverage product development, including thermal processing, aseptic and/or dairy products, Thermal Process Experience preferred
• Experience scaling up new products in a manufacturing environment, with a strong comfort level in a plant setting.
• Understanding of formula development process and basic food science principles.

Working conditions

• Interpersonal Climate: Upstate Niagara is a company that values professional, cordial, quality communication and collaboration among staff members and takes place via a coordinated team approach that includes other departments. The ideal candidate will be willing and excited to join the team and support its efforts to generate innovative quality products.
• Physical Climate: This position sometimes requires the candidate to enter wet and/ or humid conditions with mild to moderate noise levels. Safety training and protective equipment (such as ear plugs and steel toe shoes) are required and provided by the company.

Pay: $81,800 - $114,500 a year*

• The salary range indicated in this posting represents the minimum and maximum of the salary range for this position. Actual salary will vary depending on factors including, but not limited to, budget available, prior experience, knowledge, skill and education as they relate to the position’s qualifications, in addition to internal equity. The posted salary range reflects just one component of our total rewards package. Other components of the total rewards package may include participation in group health and/or dental insurance, retirement plan, wellness program, paid time away from work, and paid holidays.

Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc. is committed to equal employment opportunity for all, without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic.