Product Development ScientistOnsite in Cincinnati, OH6-month contract + extensionPOSITION SUMMARYProvide hands on product development and food science/food technology expertise to support the development, optimization, and commercialization of food products. This role is focused on bench top formulation, recipe optimization, and technical problem solving, while operating within the Corporate Food Technology (CFT) Organization.The Product Development Scientist collaborates cross functionally to bring products from concept through commercialization while maintaining Safety, Quality, and Reliability (SQR) standards and demonstrating our core values of respect, integrity, inclusion, and safety.ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONSDevelop and optimize product formulations at the bench and pilot scale, including ingredient evaluation, recipe adjustment, and cost or quality improvementsExecute hands on bench top experimentation and support pilot plant and plant trials for new and existing productsPartner cross functionally with Manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory, Procurement, Sensory, Marketing and Project Management teams to support product commercializationSupport commercialization activities, including scale up, trial execution, process validation, and issue resolution during plant runsTroubleshoot product or process challenges at the manufacturing plant level and recommend practical, technically sound solutionsSupport reformulation initiatives to improve cost, quality, performance, or supply continuity while maintaining product integrityFollow established manufacturing, food safety, quality assurance, and documentation processes throughout development and commercializationPrepare and maintain product documentation, including formulations, specifications, and technical summariesParticipate in sensory evaluations and collaborate with Sensory teams to assess product quality and consumer feedbackDemonstrate strong project organization skills, managing multiple development projects that may shift in scope or priorityAdapt quickly to changing project needs, business priorities, or timelines while maintaining attention to detailUtilize and learn computer based tools and applications to support formulation work, project tracking, and technical documentationSome travel is required to support plant trials, and commercialization effortsPerform all job functions safely and in compliance with regulatory and company requirementsMINIMUM POSITION QUALIFICATIONS (Revised)Bachelor's degree in food science, Dairy Science, Bakery Science, or a related technical discipline (such as Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry and Chemical Engineering)3+ years of hands on product development or food technology experience including ingredients, examples: flavors, colors, sweeteners, starches, emulsifiers, proteins, fat, etc.Demonstrated experience with bench top formulation and recipe optimizationExposure to manufacturing environments, plant trials, or scaled production processesStrong problem solving skills with the ability to apply food science fundamentals in practical situationsAbility to work effectively in a cross functional team environmentStrong written and verbal communication skillsDESIRED EXPERIENCE / SKILLSExperience supporting commercialization, plant trials, or line trials for food productsExposure to troubleshooting product quality or process issues at the plant levelExperience working across multiple product categories or formulationsStrong project planning and organizational skills, with the agility to adapt to shifting prioritiesComfort using computer based applications (formulation software, documentation systems, project management tools) and willingness to learn new technologiesPassion for hands on product development and continuous learning