R&D ASSOCIATE FOOD TECHNOLOGIST

Company: F & S Produce Company Inc
Location: Vineland
Posted on: May 11, 2022

Job Description:

Description:
From our headquarters in Vineland, NJ, F&S Fresh Foods distributes fresh-cut fruits, vegetables, and meal solutions to nearly 100 million customers daily. Strategically and centrally located, our main hub has easy access to every major interstate on the Eastern Seaboard. With 650,000 square feet of devoted facilities, we process over 100 million pounds of produce annually for our retail, food service, and industrial customers alike.We have spent 40 years perfecting our production and safety processes, and our support and partnership have generated new possibilities for an array of customers from restaurants to convenience store chains toThe Research & Development (R&D) Associate Food Technologist is responsible for supporting new product development initiatives from concept through commercialization. The R&D Associate Food Technologist will work under the supervision of the Product Development Manager and is responsible for execution of project related tasks within the framework of established New Product Development (NPD) processes. This includes but is not limited to successfully planning materials for benchtop development, the creation and execution of conceptual samples, effectively communicating with cross-functional partners, the development and maintenance of accurate specifications, assistance in the coordination of plant trials, and maintaining project update information. Additionally, the R&D Associate Food Technologist will possess an aptitude and/or strong desire for culinary excellence, manufacturing realization, and project management.ResponsibilitiesR&D Tech: (70%)Lead / support the New Product Development & Commercialization processes by building a strong network with Sales/Operations/Finance/Purchasing and QA departments.Create new product specifications (formulas) with on-going maintenance as needed.Engage with supply chain network on new product innovations / through scale up within commercialization.Planning and execution of benchtop samples within development stages.Coordinate and communicate production trials with operations to ensure maximum performance and minimum delay in trial executions. Documentation and assessment of learnings for downstream corrective action.Maintain shelf-life studies.Utilization of nutritional software (Genesis).Lead / support conceptualization, planning and execution of New Product Development pipeline to support the organization's revenue goals.Execute upon continuous improvement initiatives in technical documentation & organization to boost efficiency / accuracy of R&D activity. Keep accurate inventory of product and ingredient samples within R&D kitchen Project Management (30%) Support and reinforce Stage Gate development process.Responsible for R&D progress updates to Monday.com project tracker and delivery of milestone documents, updates, or hurdles to project team and management.Develops, maintains, and disseminates project documentation including project scope & schedules, internal product specifications, external ingredient documentation, and change orders. Establish and promote project management concepts, methodologies, and best practices.Ensures that all project documentation is produced in the standardized format.For F&S Produce projects - manages and controls project scope and the change control process to ensure that projects are completed according to schedule and within budget.Development of all materials and processes for documentation to ensure successful hand-off of projects.Responsible for raising and maintaining awareness of all project issues, risks, and working with appropriate personnel to develop solutions. Responsible for raising and maintaining awareness of all project issues, risks, and working with appropriate personnel to develop solutions. Success CompetenciesCommunicates effectivelyCultivates innovationBuilds networksDrives resultsOptimizes work processesPersuasiveCollaborates .

Requirements:
Bachelor's Degree (Culinary Arts, Food Science, Culinology preferred)1-3 years of experience in food manufacturing and/or foodservice; R&D preferred.Passion for culinary excellence and product development.Proven track record / experience in Project Management, supporting complex projects.Proven track record / experience as a critical team member on multiple projects simultaneously.Experience with Stage-Gate, New Product Development (NPD), and Commercialization processReporting experience in project management tools; Monday.com, MS Project, Asana - implementation experience preferred.Must have advanced MS Excel skills; Macola experience preferred.Ability to capture requirements, identify gaps, and guide corrective action.Ability to design, document, and implement processes and procedures for increased efficiency.Impeccable organizational skills and attention to detail.Team building, problem solving, & conflict resolution.Strong relationship building and interpersonal skills.Effective communicator at all levels, professional presentation.Dynamic, self-motivated, and self-sufficient.Ability to cope with pressure and be comfortable with ambiguity.Bilingual: Spanish (English) a plus. F&S CULTURE:As we continue to grow and provide leading edge products to our customers, we understand hiring the right people and treating them well is critical to our success. Everything we do starts with our values. These are the beliefs that we share and that strengthen our team. Our values shape our thoughts and actions every day. At F&S its Always FRESH and Always FUN!Find the most positive path. Respond swiftly, accurately, and nimbly. Earn trust by sharing, helping, and keeping promises. Serve up safety. Have each other's backs. F&S OFFERS:We are proud to provide a comprehensive benefits program focused on your total well-being.Competitive compensation packageA robust health and welfare benefits package that includes Life, Health, Dental, Vision The opportunity to plan for the future with a strong 401(K) including company match!Time to recharge with Paid Time Off annually + Paid HolidaysCareer Advancement opportunities and Tuition Assistance to help you achieve your goals and continue your career growth.At F & S Fresh Foods, we strive to build a diverse workforce through equal opportunity employment that embraces and leverages the differences each individual has to offer. Equal Employment Opportunity Employer of minorities/females/disabled/veterans.PI177398497

Keywords: F & S Produce Company Inc, Vineland , R&D ASSOCIATE FOOD TECHNOLOGIST, Other , Vineland, New Jersey