Food Scientist, Product Development

ABOUT KATE FARMS

Kate Farms is a company with heart. Our company was founded on the belief that good nutrition leads to good health, and good health opens the door to endless possibilities. That’s why our mission is to make nutrition the cornerstone of healthcare so people can live their best lives. We are a medical food company that makes complete nutrition formulas for people who have a medical need for liquid nutrition. 

Kate Farms works to be the place where a diverse mix of talented individuals want to come, stay, and do their best work. Ensuring a diverse and inclusive workplace where we learn from each other is at the core of Kate Farms’ values. We are an equal-opportunity employer and fully focused on equality; we believe deeply in diversity of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, national origin, and all the other fascinating characteristics that make us different. We invite you to do the best work of your life with us at Kate Farms.

POSITION OVERVIEW

We are seeking a self-starting, independent, detail-oriented, and innovative Scientist to join our Product Development team. This person will perform laboratory product development tasks and will work independently, as well as under guidance, on complex formulations. They will play a crucial role in developing exciting new products and renovating current products by leading and progressing multiple projects in different stages of the development cycle from concept to commercialization. This Scientist will have strong knowledge in food science principles and be able to apply scientific method and logic to formulation and manufacturing process. They will develop experimental designs to confirm stability and label claims across shelf life, evaluate sensory profiles of products (both internally and externally) ensuring the formulation conforms to Kate Farms customer expectations, troubleshoot formula/process design failures, and qualify ingredient substitutions and optimizations. 

WHAT YOU WILL DO

·        Conduct benchtop experiments and/or participate in laboratory activities to support Product Development team members.

·        Execute all assigned projects and ensure alignment with project brief by collaborating with Brand, Medical Sciences, and Nutritional Sciences.

·        Execute formula changes to existing formulas to meet new nutrient and stability targets

·        Assist senior team members with general product development tasks, including but not limited to lab/pilot plant data collection and analysis, equipment/system qualification/verification.

·        Lead root cause analysis exercises and generate, analyze, and interpret lab/pilot plant data to make recommendations.

·        Perform lab/pilot plant experimentation in support of qualification of alternate ingredients or manufacturing sites.

·        Independently conduct shelf-life studies, sensory evaluations, and nutritional analyses of new products.

·        Work closely with Quality Control and Supply/Procurement teams to develop and set food quality and manufacturing standards.

·        Analyze nutritional results to inform formulation and ensure macro and micronutrient label claims are met.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO

• BS in Food Science or related field. Preference given to candidates with advanced degrees, or for those with 2+ years of food/beverage product development experience.
• Plant-based formulation experience is desired.
• Strong preference given to professionals with education or experience in development/commercialization of nutritional beverages.
• Developed knowledge of aseptic manufacturing processes, specifically UHT RTD beverages. Consideration given to candidates with experience in dry blending, spray drying, or retorting in addition to liquid beverage experience.
• Proficiency in MS Office with exceptional Excel skills.
• Self-motivated, deadline driven, and able to think and work independently. Project management acumen is desired.
• Excellent interpersonal, collaboration, and communication (written and oral) skills.
• Strong commitment to company mission and values.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Respectfully shares and accepts feedback willingly from all levels of the organization.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Effectively handle lifting of various objects weighing up to 25 pounds.

While performing the essential functions of the job, the employee will be required to bend, stoop, kneel, reach, and climb stairs.

Possess the ability to sit at a computer for extended periods of time.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

This position will work in a home/office environment with weekly on-site work at the Kate Farms HQIQ Center (3 days/wk minimum) and requires occasional visits to manufacturing sites, supplier offices, and other meeting locations.  May require 10% travel.

It is Kate Farms policy that any position that requires regular interaction with healthcare professionals require that, if hired, you be vaccinated against COVID-19 unless you need a reasonable accommodation due to sincerely held religious beliefs, medical needs, or other reasons protected by applicable federal, state, and local law.

Compensation for this role is in the form of base salary plus a variable component that together comprise the On-Target-Earnings (OTE). Some positions may include additional compensation in the form of equity.

The typical starting salary range for new hires in this role is listed below. This range represents the lowest to highest salary range we reasonably and in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range, and the range may be modified in the future. Please note that base pay offered may vary depending on factors including your geographic location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

If hired, employee will be in an “at-will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.  All job offers are contingent upon successful completion of background verification.

$89,114 - $113,872 USD

For full-time salaried or hourly workers, our total rewards package also include the option to enroll in a company-matched 401k plan, as well as participate in Company-sponsored medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance plans for the employee and the employee’s eligible dependents.  Employees will also receive a generous  PTO benefit with a starting accrual of 15 days per year (prorated upon hire and increased by tenure),  two weeks of paid “Refresh” leave, 80 hours of paid sick leave annually, and 11 paid holidays throughout the calendar year.  Kate Farms offers a range of other benefits offered with an emphasis on employee well-being such as paid disability leave, paid parental / pregnancy leave, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), tuition reimbursement, an Employee Assistance Program, and more.