*Due to the acquisition of Hostess Brands, we have several opportunities for new team members in our Sweet Baked Snacks team which will be permanently located in Orrville, Ohio! *
Your Opportunity as the Technologist, Product Development-Sweet Baked Snacks Research & Development Team
In this role you will use your understanding of food science/product development to perform basic and critical experimental work of applied research and/or development including planning experiments, generating and analyzing data, and sharing recommendations to a cross-functional team regarding formulation of new products. Technologists of Product Development and Formulation plan and execute a broad range of technical tasks and must be able to work effectively independently with minimal direction or within a team. Your work is typically "hands on" in a lab, in a plant or pilot plant, at a critical site, on a computer, or with consumers for all Sweet Baked Snacks products.
Location: Corporate Offices in Orrville, Ohio
Work Arrangements: Ability to travel up to 30% on an ongoing basis (travel frequency dependent on projects and product launch pipeline). Due to the transition of the team from Lenexa, Kansas to Orrville, OH travel may be higher in the first 6 months (Up to 50% at times).
In this role you will:
Provide input and/or ask for direction on parts of projects that impact formulation of the product
Collaborate with cross functional partners including: Brand Management, Insights, Product Research, Packaging Development, Sales, and Operations in early-stage new product discovery and design.
Design products based on a business need, as defined by consumer insights, a product brief and learning plan, while under guidance of a manager
Formulate products based on ingredient functionality, nutritional targets, consumer need, claim substantiation, operational feasibility, and financial targets with direction from manager
Conduct experiments from rapid, iterative prototyping to development and scale-up (benchtop, pilot plant, plant)
Review and interpret data, from process trials, measurements from chemical/physical analysis, feeding studies, storage studies, statistical analysis, providing conclusions and recommendations to technical team
Partner with other disciplines and resources, both internal and external to Research & Development and JM Smucker, sharing information, building upon an integration of ideas
Compose new and update existing documents such as specs (ingredients, finished product), reports, project updates, data analyses, laboratory notebooks, etc.
Provide expertise to commercialization team to bring new products to market
Learn to assess legal and environmental aspects, and patent opportunities for new products.
Assist as needed in providing innovative ideas leading to the creation of new products, cost savings/efficiency, and solving product related challenges
The Right Place for You
We are bold, kind, strive to do the right thing, we play to win, and we believe in a strong community that thrives together. Our culture is rooted in our Basic Beliefs, and we believe in supporting every employee by meeting their physical, emotional, and financial needs.
What we are looking for:
Minimum Requirements:
B.S. Degree in Food Science or Bakery Science preferred. Will consider other science, technology or engineering majors.
0-2 years in product development CPG food or beverage.
Passion for sweet baked snacks and baked goods.
Experience in product development, quality, or operations technical support from an internship and/or full-time employment within CPG (food/beverage preferred)
Knowledge of basic food formulation and working knowledge of areas related to food formulation such as food safety, nutrition and regulatory, shelf life management, and interaction with processing and packaging.
Strong communication, both oral and written
Strong organizational, critical thinking, and creativity skills
Exposure to project management
Effective presentation, verbal, and written communication skills
Comfortable in ambiguous situations
Confident and proactive person open to constant learning
Can work with personal and food safety in mind
Ability to lift up to 30 lbs.
Additional skills and experience that we think would make someone successful in this role:
Culinary experience or culinary degrees in combination with a science, engineering, or technology
Baking Experience
Learn more about working at Smucker:
Our Total Rewards Benefits Program
Our Thriving Together Philosophy Supporting All Impacted by Our Business
Our Continued Progress on Inclusion, Diversity and Equity