Position: Senior Scientist

ABOUT HORMEL FOODS — Inspired People. Inspired Food.™

Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a global branded food company with over $12 billion in annual revenue across more than 80 countries worldwide. Its brands include Planters®, SKIPPY®, SPAM®, Hormel® Natural Choice®, Applegate®, Justin’s®, Wholly®, Hormel® Black Label®, Columbus®, Jennie-O® and more than 30 other beloved brands. The company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, was named on the “Global 2000 World’s Best Employers” list by Forbes magazine for three years, is one of Fortune magazine’s most admired companies, has appeared on the “100 Best Corporate Citizens” list by 3BL Media 13 times, and has received numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts. The company lives by its purpose statement — Inspired People. Inspired Food.™ — to bring some of the world’s most trusted and iconic brands to tables across the globe. For more information, visit www.hormelfoods.com and https://csr.hormelfoods.com/.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Hormel Foods Corporate Services, LLC, headquartered in Austin, MN, seeks a full-time Senior Scientist. Responsible for applying broad based of knowledge of Food Science, Further Processing, and Thermal Processing in the role of technical troubleshooter, using problem solving skills as required to resolve thermal processing issues identified in the plants or by corporate personnel. Provides advice to other functions in the company or its co-packers in Thermal Processing, and Further Processing matters. Maintains, evaluates, and applies appropriate Thermal Processing resources to effectively integrate with other groups in the company such as Operations and Engineering to provide effective applications of Thermal Processing technology and theory to solve or prevent existing or potential problems. Designs, initiates, and evaluates heat penetration and temperature distribution tests, including those involving a moderate degree of complexity and/or potential product safety risk, to assure that all Hormel Foods shelf-stable and processed foods have safe processes. Investigates and evaluates events and records at the processing plants that lead to thermal process deviations and/or product safety risk, to assure that all products that did not meet their process requirements are safe prior to release to our customers. Initiates and facilitates Thermal Processing Audits at Hormel Foods and co-packer plants that produce shelf stable and processed foods. Using solid knowledge of the requirements of safe thermal processing, advises and assists plant personnel in identifying and implementing safe and sometimes novel solutions to thermal processing problems. Helps revise and customize training materials to satisfy individual plant training needs. Applies advanced research principles in several key areas of food safety, process development, and thermal processing by conducting research in multiple fields of the food manufacturing discipline. Communicates results that will lead to new and improved, innovative, and creative applications in support of company goals and objectives. Conducts research projects focusing on pathogen mitigation in Hormel Foods’s operations, focusing on the latest techniques to detect, predict, reduce, and/or eliminate pathogens in myriad phases of production, including primary and further processing, and thermal processing. Designs and coordinates studies as needed to validate the efficacy of pathogen intervention strategies in raw and ready-to-eat foods. Collaborates with the product development team to ensure Listeria monocytogenes intervention strategies are implemented and validated for all ready-to-eat products such that USDA standards are achieved. Supervises staff in the routine shelf-life testing of products, including the selection of product mix and frequency of analysis. Position can be located in Willmar, MN or Austin, MN.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• This position requires Master’s degree or equivalent in Food Science or a related field. 
• Two (2) years related experience.
• Must also have 12 months of experience with each of the following:

1. Applying advanced principles of food processing and science;
2. Designing research projects focusing on salmonella reduction;
3. Designing, conducting, directing, and documenting experiments related to food safety;
4. Reading, interpreting, and implementing USDA FSIS regulations;
5. Applying technical knowledge and problem-solving abilities related to food safety; and
6. Testing and validating efficacy of the intervention strategy and shelf-life of food products.

Will accept experience gained before, during or after Master’s program. Employer will accept experience gained concurrently. 35% domestic and international travel required to perform thermal processing validation studies. Supervise 1 to 2 subordinates in the position of Associate Senior Scientist, Scientist, Associate Scientist, Prod Pro Improve Tech. 

Job Location: Position can be located in Willmar, MN or Austin, MN.

BENEFITS: Hormel Foods offers an excellent benefits package. Competitive base salary plus bonus, annual merit increase performance reviews, medical, dental, vision, non-contributory pension, profit sharing, 401(k), stock purchase plan, relocation assistance, paid vacation. 

For immediate consideration, apply online at: www.hormelfoods.com/careers.

At Hormel we invite difference and diversity in all aspects. We offer a space of support, understanding, and community. We are committed to the journey! Learn more about our progress here: https://www.hormelfoods.com/about/diversity-and-inclusion/.

Hormel Foods Corporation is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, gender, gender orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.