Position Title: Research Scientist Product Development S&R Mexico
Reports to Title: Sr. Research Scientist S&R
Dept / Function: Research & Development Mexico
Location: El Salto, Jalisco.
**Summary**:
- Position committed to quality and food safety carrying out activities directly and indirectly designing, developing, obtaining, manufacturing, distributing and/or selling our products to satisfy our customers and consumers.
- Uses his/her technical and scientific knowledge and skills to contribute to the growth of the company aligned to the strategic vision by, under moderate supervision:
1. Contributing to create a new products pipeline. Develop prototypes based on knowledge of business, brands, technologies, and other design criteria. Coordinate these efforts with his/her manager and the Marketing / Consumer Insights area.
2. Developing new product formulation and production process. Works in coordination with Operations and Mkt:
- Coordinating and executes trials of diverse complexity and scope: pilot, industrial, FAT's, start up, and makes design decisions based on the data analysis.
- Providing information and working closely with Engineering to implement process solutions as required.
- Documenting the development according to internal policies.
- Do the above at Hershey plants or externally (co-manufacturers).
3. Collaborating in continuous improvement projects. Proposes and develops formula and process optimizations under the applicable guidelines to contribute to improved profitability, working closely with Operations, and understanding their priority.
4. Engage in implementing and developing best practices. Contributes with the technical community to maintain and/or develop best practices.
**Summary of major duties**:
- Develop products at benchtop level, for innovation and for continuous improvement purposes. Select raw materials, define of formulas and transformation processes, demonstrating knowledge of food science and technology, regulation, cost constraints, consumer insights. Documents development according to internal guidelines.
- Coordinate pilot or scale up and other tests of different scope, from preparation to execution to data collection, analysis, and reporting. Define a product and process specification for the new product, documenting accordingly to internal guidelines and any other needed by third party such as co manufacturers.
- This applies to new product and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Provide support to production startups, delivers specifications, develops, and provides trainings related to new product or product changes to QA and Production teams.
- Collaborate in idea development initiatives to populate the category Front of Funnel: contact with suppliers, technology and ingredient evaluation, feasibility analysis, idea generation, product benchmarking. Interact with peers of the broader R&D and technical community.
**Specific Knowledge**:
Food & Agriculture Science, Nutrition Science, Sensory Science, Process Engineering, Packaging Science, Statistical Science, Product Development, Food Policy & Regulation, Intellectual Property, Open Innovation, Project Management,
**Skills**:
- English 80%
- Teamwork approach, Good communication skills, Clarity and certainty when interacting with plant, suppliers, co-manufacturers and other parties, Analytical thinking, ability to use data, technical knowledge and business knowledge for decision making. Ability to coordinate and train plant staff for industrial trials and production startup.
**Education**:
Bachelor Food Science, Chemistry or Engineering.
**Experience**:
- Min. 3 years of experience in the food industry, 1 of those in the confectionary industry.
- Min. 2 years of experience in new product development, familiarized with the Stage Gate process, interacting with Marketing.
- Min. 2 years of experience coordinating plant tests or plant related work, interacting with interdisciplinary groups: Engineering, plant, Maintenance, etc.)
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