Ice Cream Associate Scientist, NA

About the Role

As an Associate Scientist in the North America Ice Cream Research, Design & Innovation (RD&I) team, you will support technical deliverables across innovation, renovation, quality improvement, and cost optimization projects. Working with Technical Project Leaders and cross-functional partners, you will help turn project briefs into consumer-relevant products through hands-on bench development, pilot plant work, testing, and specification management.

Key Responsibilities

• Support product development workstreams to deliver regional innovation, renovation, quality improvement, and cost optimization projects
• Lead bench-top development and optimization work based on project briefs
• Screen and validate new ingredients and suppliers, and recommend scientifically sound next steps based on analytical, sensory, and product-showing results
• Plan and execute pilot plant trials, sample preparation, analytical testing, and sensory evaluations
• Manage ingredients and product samples, including inventory, ordering, logistics, shipping, and disposal
• Conduct product showings and cuttings with cross-functional partners, including Brand and Consumer Technical Insight teams
• Lead the process of specification creation in SAP PLM from the request to the approved status and create specifications for all new ingredients and new products to be launched
• Participate in factory trials for commercialization and support third-party manufacturing setup for outsourced product launches

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Minimum of B.S. in Food Science or relevant scientific related field of study
• 1+ years of relevant product development experience, including internships, is preferred
• Experience operating within regulations (such as FDA), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), as well as Good Laboratory Practices (GLPs)
• Basic technical knowledge of ingredient functionality, processing, nutrition, and legislation in foods is a plus
• Effective verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills within cross-functional teams and with outside customers
• Good project management, organizational skills, multi-tasking, and quick learning will enable success in this role
• Ability to present information to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Ability to prepare comprehensive trial/lab reports and presentations, including recommendations and next steps

Qualifications

• Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without the need for current or future employer sponsorship. Employment eligibility will be verified as part of the hiring process.