Principal/Sr. Scientist, Plant-Based Beverage, Innovation

Overview

Principal/Sr. Scientist, Plant-Based Beverage, Innovation — entrepreneurial scientific leadership opportunity within an ultra-innovative category defining plant-based food & beverage, functional foods and nutritional products company with state-of-the-art research labs and manufacturing capabilities. You will oversee new Product Development, Innovation and Commercialization of vegan plant-based dairy alternatives including protein shakes, coffee creamers, plant-based cheese and other dairy alternative products from product launch through to commercialization.

Responsibilities

• Oversee Product Development, Innovation and Commercialization of non-dairy food & beverage products including protein shakes, coffee creamers, and plant-based dairy alternative products.
• Oversee Product Development and Innovation to introduce and grow non-dairy food & beverage products including category-defining all natural plant-based dairy food alternatives.
• Partner with marketing, scientific and technical core team members to define project scope, success criteria, and critical paths while maintaining Stage Gate methodologies from innovation, R&D, process scale up, sensory testing, product launch through to post-launch reviews.
• Understand and leverage the nutritional impact value of products, interpret results and work with Marketing to further product development efforts.
• Drive Scientific Marketing campaigns through content creation, PR campaigns and writing for scientific whitepapers and informational documents.
• Communicate scientific and technological concepts to technical and non-technical audiences at multiple levels to enable sound business decisions.
• Drive IP development and the generation of novel technologies through granted and issued patents.
• Serve as a member of the leadership team overseeing and developing the emerging Health and Nutrition Science Division.

Desired Skills & Experience

• 5+ years of successful product development and marketing experience from within protein shakes, plant-based foods, dairy alternatives, meatless foods, nutritional products, nutraceuticals, bioactives, probiotics, infant formula, toddler products and/or food-pharma related industries.
• MS or Ph.D. in Food Science, Nutritional Science, Nutrition or related scientific field. MD or MBA a plus.
• Scientific expertise developing and commercializing non-dairy food & beverage products including protein shakes, coffee creamers, plant-based cheese and plant-based dairy alternative products.
• Marketing and Commercialization experience building early stage natural foods, organic foods, plant-based foods, nutraceuticals, nutritional products and non-dairy brands into category market leaders.
• Project Management experience developing nutritional food products from discovery, R&D, development, product launch through to commercialization phases.
• Process innovation expertise with Stage-Gate methodologies.
• Scientific lab expertise in functional foods, plant-based foods, nutritional ingredients, flavor chemistry, emulsions or sensory science is a plus.
• Experience developing clinical trial protocols, scientific studies and laboratory testing methods supporting marketing claims.
• Strong publication, presentation and patent record.
• Entrepreneurial, visionary and strategic leadership experience in a dynamic fast-paced ultra-innovative environment.

Company Description

This position is within a Buffalo Area natural products and nutritional foods spinoff company backed by a major CPG, Dairy and Nutritional Products Manufacturer. It is an incredible opportunity to join an ultra-innovative, fast-paced and friendly entrepreneurial environment with an exciting portfolio of new product launches.

Employment details

• Seniority level: Director
• Employment type: Full-time
• Job function: Science, Research, and Marketing
• Industries: Biotechnology Research, Food and Beverage Services, and Food and Beverage Manufacturing