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Job Description
PURPOSE OF POSITION:
With moderate level of independence, the incumbent
applies the principles of food processing, science and
culinary skills to; initiate, design, conduct and
document experiments; collect, analyze and evaluate data; and communicate
results that will lead to improved and new innovative and creative
applications in support of the
company goals and objectives.
Working Environment:
This job requires time inside the facility with exposure to both
temperature extremes (cold below 50F and heat above 90F). Some lifting up
to 50 lbs and frequent use of stairs and catwalks can be expected.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:
The incumbent reports directly to the Research and
Development Manager and requires a solid foundation of knowledge in food
science, technology, and culinary skills to develop food products and
modify existing food processing technologies. The incumbent will manage a
substantial number of projects with various degrees of difficulty,
contribute to portions of more complex or technical projects as part of a
larger team and will lead complex projects requiring cooperative
involvement from suppliers and various plant and corporate resources.
Project assignments, activities and reports are overseen by supervision,
but the incumbent will plan, conduct and analyze tests unsupervised. The
incumbent is responsible for data analysis, evaluation and conclusions
and is competent in presenting recommendations in written and oral
formats. The incumbent serves as a scientific advisor for the Company and
has expertise in several specific areas of the science.
1. With
moderate level of independence, the incumbent identifies project
opportunities and plans, formulates and
conducts research to develop new
products and processes or modifies existing products and processes in
support of the company’ goals and objectives. For example, an
additive exists that may function as well as a lactate-based item for the
control of bacterial growth and maximization of shelf life on fresh
products. The incumbent organizes, conducts and evaluates research
to investigate several hypotheses that may present opportunities to
maintain or enhance current flavor profiles and shelf life at a lower operational costs.
2.
Investigates, approves, implements and evaluates changes during the
development of new product
formulations and processes to help the
internal customers attain their targeted objectives. For example,
marketing challenges the incumbent to modify the formula of a high-fat
product by incorporating
3% water without affecting the operational and
physical and physical of the product or the flavor of performance
attributes for the end consumer. The
incumbent uses microencapsulated salts to minimize the effect of the
salt-soluble meat protein creating a sticky
mass at different stages of the plant operation process. Some of the
dry spices are converted to oleoresins to take
advantage of their antioxidant activity thereby promoting a
longer shelf life, and stabilize color
during frozen storage. Least- cost formulation alternatives are tested
and validated to conform to the production objectives for utilizing
different raw material ingredients.
3. Identifies,
investigates, evaluates, verifies and appraises new technologies and
services contributing to improved operational efficiencies, yields,
creates or modifies products or processes, or has application from a
non–meat technology. For example, the incumbent coordinates several
formulation and processing tests to improve product performance and operational
efficiencies for GT hams. After appraising results from a series of tests
the incumbent identifies an ingredient that can decrease purge in the
finished product while also providing improved yields and decreased
tumble times. After improvements are verified in the plant, the incumbent
leads a team including operations, purchasing, and accounting to
coordinate purchasing and implementing the ingredient. The incumbent then
follows through after implementation to train plant employees in the
correct reformulation, verify bill of materials, etc. to achieve desired
results.
4.
Investigates, advises and direct research to solve complex problems that
requires interaction with other
divisions within the Company such as engineering,
operations, industrial engineering, marketing and
purchasing. Provides scientific
information and advice to counsel marketing and operations management
towards resolving a variety of issues
on an as-needed basis. For example, the incumbent identifies
improvements to cooking methods for processing barbeque rib items.
The incumbent appraises and executes a test protocol to improve the
overall process and provide a more consistent product. The incumbent then
coordinates another series of tests to optimize the formulation of the
rib items in order to provide a customer perceived superior finish
product. He or she then sells this process and formulation to marketing
and leads a cross functional team to implement the changes into
production providing both cost savings and product performance benefits.
The incumbent coaches Marketing and Sales on product benefits during
cuttings so they can showcase the product to numerous customers.
5. Identifies, compares, tests, and
evaluates new technologies that have potential for improving product
performance attributes or improve operational
productivity, yields, reduce variations or improve quality
attributes. For instance, developing
and maintaining a desired color for a smoked and cured product cannot be
achieves
using traditional smokehouse methods.
Infrared heating, radio wave heating and oil browning technologies.
Are indentified as potential solutions and tests
are initiated and conducted that include changes to the product
formulation, surface browning agents, and
to the manufacturing process to achieve the targeted outcome.
Results and recommendations are communicated across
several divisions to specify and purchase new
equipment and implement process changes
and product reformulation.
6. On an as needed basis, the incumbent
provides technical and scientific support and training for plant
operations. For example, during one
of the incumbent’s scheduled plant smokehouse tests, it is noticed that
the
temperature distribution is no uniform
during the process. The incumbent coordinates the necessary plant
operations and engineering personnel to
assist in a series of impromptu tests to future evaluate the problem.
The incumbent provides the objective data to lead
the team towards a solution that reestablishes thermal
uniformity, reduces variation in yield and color,
and reduces the risk of process deviations that could lead to
costly reprocessing or rework of
product.
7. Manages multiple projects of various
degrees of difficulty initiated by internal customers and initiates
projects that improve current processes
or technologies or evaluates new technologies. For instance, the
incumbent manages a diversified project load initiated by several
marketing or operations managers. In conjunction with these projects, the
incumbent is required to learn and acquire new technical
scientific skills, be self-direct in projects that support
her or his areas of expertise, and generate projects that lead to the
development of new or modified products, processes, or technologies to
help the Company maintain a competitive advantage.
8. Effectively
communicates on a technical and scientific level with internal and
external supplier using
verbal and non-verbal skills to effectively and
accurately identify and define projects and evaluate project
goals into actionable tasks. The
incumbent, presents and defends recommendations in written
and presentation formats. For
example, the Food Scientist must document their research into clear and
concise documents including expected results, actual results, next steps,
and recommended actions.
Job Requirements
Qualifications:
1. Education
and /or Experience: This position is generally filled with a MS
degree with 4 or more years experience or a BS with more than 6 years of
experience working with meat products.
2. Language
Skills: Excellent verbal and written English communication skills.
3. Computer
Skills: Microsoft operation system, Work, Excel, AS400, Lotus Notes.
4. Reasoning
Ability: Must be detailed oriented, able to adapt to changing
situations, be able to prioritize multiple projects at one time and make
firm decisions.
_________________________________________________________________________
EMPLOYMENT STATEMENT:
At Farmer John, we are committed to achieving equal opportunity for all
of our associates and applicants for employment without regard to race,
color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, national
origin, disability, veteran status or any other protected group status
under federal, state or local law. We respect, value, and welcome
diversity in our work force, as well as in our customers and our
suppliers.
You must be legally entitled to work in the United States and immediately
available to begin work in the location specified.
Thank you in advance for sending your resume to Farmer John. We will
review your resume and contact you if we feel you are a good fit for this
position.
Apply
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