Sr Research Scientist - Salty

Location: Hershey, PA (Technology Center)

Summary:

Reporting to the Salty Division R&D Manager and based in the Hershey Technical Center in Hershey, PA, the Sr. Research Scientist position provides project leadership of product development projects in Hershey’s salty snack portfolio.  The ability to operate with medium to high autonomy across all initiatives is required. The successful candidate will consistently demonstrate, apply, and disseminate technical knowledge and expertise.  This candidate must demonstrates proven problem-solving skills and is a critical thinker, resulting in problem resolution and process improvements. The successful candidate can communicate complex or technical subject matter to different audiences at different levels within the organization. This candidate has the capability to influence stakeholders and leverage networks to provide solutions.

Specific Role Focus Area:

• • •  

• Focused on developing new products across our salty snacking portfolio including popcorn and puffs, as well as product renovations and quality improvement,

• Performs prototyping and development from bench top to manufacturing scale,

•  Interact closely with a cross-functional team including marketing, QRC, manufacturing, and engineering,

•  Assumes a leadership role in complex projects and guides them through the Salty Innovation process with the support of a cross-functional team,

• Participate in project design and methodology, test ideas through experimentation, and determine next steps through problem solving,

• Work within a team to ensure product recipe and specification documentation is complete and accurate.

This role will interact and partner with:

• R&D team members

• Manufacturing and Co-Manufacturing

• Engineering

• QRC

• Project Management

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

• Product Development Leadership from benchtop to pilot plant to manufacturing scale

• Actively seek new technologies and innovation opportunities

• Lead product development workstreams.  Partnering with marketing and suppliers to bring concept to life from bench top to pilot to commercial scale,

• Support Product Data enrichment and accuracy in S4 environment

• Follow up with suppliers, vendors, cross-functional team members for any missing information

• Research design/data analysis/report writing/ presentation 

• Design and execute experiments, analyze data and provide conclusions using an appropriate statistical tool.

Minimum knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform major duties/responsibilities: 

• Demonstrated experience leading product development project to commercialize,

• Hands on skills involving running laboratory and pilot plant equipment,

• Demonstrated knowledge of salty snacks processing – popcorn, extruded snacks, baked snacks (pretzels)

• Excellent communication, written and critical thinking skills,

• Understanding of the impact of the key processing parameters in the conversion of raw ingredient and in-process material to finished product and critical for the day-to-day operation of a line. 

• Demonstrated success in leading multiple and simultaneous projects.

• Possess good computer skills (basic knowledge of Word, PowerPoint, Excel, MS Teams).  Prior experience with SAP is preferred,

• Ability to work independently and within a team environment,

• Up to 35% travel required.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:

• BS degree in Food Science, Chemical Engineering, Food Engineering, Chemistry, or related field with 6-8 years' experience, MS or PhD in Food Science or related field with 2-4 years' experience.

• Intern and prior research project work will be considered; Salty Snacks product development experience is preferred.

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