Product Development Scientist

Who We Are

At Freshpet, our goal is to change the way people nourish their pets forever. We strive to strengthen the bond between people and our pets so that we both live longer, healthier, and happier lives while being kind to the planet. We believe that if we can create fresh, real foods that pets love and help them live healthier lives, that their pet parents will also enjoy the many benefits of a rich life shared with a pet.

We started off with a mission to change the way pet parents feed dogs and cats, but we also wanted to be a company that had a thoughtful approach to how we operate. We wanted to do things differently, make great products but be gentle to the planet, good to the people who touch our business, and leave a positive impact with everything we do. We work hard every day to ensure that the original vision is met, starting with making the highest quality foods in our kitchens to running our business with integrity, transparency, and social and environmental responsibility. IT’S AMAZING WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN YOU START COMPLETELY FRESH!

What You Will Do

The functions performed by this position are the leadership and execution of projects by designing & conducting experiments, recording of experimental data and communicating of results to their supervisor by means of project updates, product cuttings, and laboratory reports. This includes calculating formulas, producing sample batches in the lab/pilot plant, conducting plant trials, leading cuttings with requisite technical information on hand and communicating with Sales, Marketing, Operations, Quality Assurance, and other departments as needed.

The responsibilities of the R&D Product Development Scientist will include:

Business

• Manage multiple projects and show technical competence in the planning and completion of assigned projects leading to the development and implementation into production of new or revised products with minimal supervision
• Records, collates, evaluates, and interprets experimental data and makes appropriate recommendations to all levels in the organization through written or oral reports. Maintains an accurate laboratory notebook of all intellectual property
• Prepare and conduct meeting updates, product cuttings, presentations, shelf-life testing and cost analysis to project team members.
• Independently organize and conduct in-person plant trials
• Effectively organize R&D lab and R&D plant areas including cleaning equipment, inventory and stocking of supplies, ingredients and finished products
• Participate and support QA team in yearly SQF certification including internal audits and paperwork compliance
• Provide necessary technical support to vendors, customers and operations when problems occur with products
• Provide support to method development in on-site benchtop and nutritional labs
• R&D Director will serve as back up to this position

Agility and Innovation

• Set up and operate standard lab equipment / techniques of moderate complexity
• Conduct innovation work sessions and develop new products in lab
• Facilitate lab, pilot plant or plant test runs
• When appropriate, supervises technicians, plant personnel and/or interns in the execution of experiments, plant test runs and product commissioning

Relationships and People

• Independently carry out assignments and review data for accuracy and trends and communicate any concerns
• Interact directly and effectively communicate with the Marketing team to successfully launch new products and achieve cross-functional strategic project goals
• Effectively interact with cross-function project teams internal and external through written and oral communications and maintain current understanding of overall project status
• Collaborate with colleagues to make significant individual contribution to deliver goals and execute project plans

Work Location and Travel

• Primary work location is Ennis, TX
• May travel 0-50% of the time, dependent on project and development location; including, but not limited to, Arkansas and Pennsylvania
• May at times be required to travel to training programs, test runs, to co-packers, ingredient, or equipment vendors, and/or other suppliers and testing facilities at odd hours
• This position is required onsite, with flexibility as needed

Education Requirements

• BS/MS Food Science, Animal Science or equivalent technical qualifications required

Work Experience Requirements

• Min of 2+ years of experience in pet food industry
• Strong technical knowledge in meat and poultry science, meat microbiology, and pet food product development are required
• General laboratory experience is required
• Prior R&D project management experience is required
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Basic understanding of cat and dog nutrition required, advanced knowledge of AAFCO and FEDIAF regulations preferred
• Ability to formulate, use standard lab equipment and conduct experimental procedures
• Ability to perform standardized and routine assignments involving a sequence of related operations with minimal supervision
• Computer skills with proficiency to construct moderately complex graphs and charts, record formulas, design presentations and evaluate statistical analysis modules
• Excellent project management and organizational skills, attention to detail, and capacity to multitask efficiently
• Formulation of pet foods using a program such as C5, BestMix, or equivalent
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work in a team and adapt to dynamic work environment
• Ability to interact effectively with individuals at all levels of the organization
• Responds well to changing priorities and quick turnaround projects
• Physically capable of handling or transporting goods (up to 40 lbs)
• Must be able to withstand occasional cold temperatures (40° F)

What We Offer

At Freshpet, we offer a competitive salary and an excellent benefits package, including medical, dental and vision insurance, basic and optional life insurance, short- and long-term disability protection, flexible spending accounts, and a 401(k) plan with company match, paid parental leave, pet insurance, tuition assistance, a generous PTO plan and so much more!

Our Commitment to a Diverse Workforce:

At Freshpet, we embrace and encourage our employees’ differences in age, sex, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics that make our employees unique.

Freshpet aims to foster, cultivate, and preserve a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion. Our employees are our most valuable assets. The collective sum of the individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, inventiveness, innovation, self-expression, unique capabilities and talent that our employees invest in their work represents a significant part of not only our culture, but our reputation and company’s achievement as well. Freshpet is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Disclaimers

We are interested in every qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States. However, we are not able to sponsor visas.

Freshpet is not accepting unsolicited assistance from search firms for this employment opportunity. Please, no phone calls or emails. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at Freshpet via-email, the Internet or in any form and/or method without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of Freshpet. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Freshpet as a result of the referral or through other means.