Principal Scientist

About Beech-Nut Nutrition Company…

We are one of America’s leading companies providing nutritious, wholesome foods for babies using real ingredients, gently cooked, with non-GMO verified, Natural or organic ingredients in almost all our products.

Our work is organized around our mission to Delight Consumers by Conserving the Goodness of Nature. We care deeply about others, the planet, and are empowered to make a difference. We expect, reward and celebrate strong performance.

Our Values…

Our ambition to grow is underpinned by our four core values Create wow, Everyone Hero, Nourish others, & Take Responsibility. Our values help us navigate the ever-changing environment in which we operate and ensure we innovate to meet customer needs.

Create wow ~ Everyone Hero ~ Nourish others ~ Take responsibility

If this sounds like a place you want to invest your time, keep reading!

About the Role…

The Principal Scientist will assist the VP of QA & Technical Services in providing food safety scientific risk assessments and suggestions for improvements. Review or create all new products risk assessments during the Stage Gate innovation process and approve that risks are being managed properly. This role will also be responsible for providing scientific support and testing requirements to verify labeling and nutritional content claims. Provide data and statistical analysis of quality, food safety, waste, and production data to support process and food safety improvements and capital investments. Conducts scientific research into current and future risks and make recommendations to minimize the company’s exposure to risk. Conducts research into proper testing methodology and protocols and assist in trouble shooting laboratory testing issues.

About the Team…

The Technical Services Team is diverse in knowledge and experience and are responsible for ensuring that Beech-Nut’s products meet the highest standards for food safety and quality. This team takes pride in, and responsibility in partnering with our Strategic Sourcing, Operations and Quality Assurance Teams to ensure the ingredients sourced and processed have passed our testing standards and expectations. This is a hands-on, collaborative team that is energetic and passionate about making sure we continue to do what we do best - making high quality, safe, and nutritious foods for babies and toddlers!

Our Commitment to Safety…

At Beech-Nut we are committed to a strong safety program that protects its staff, its property, and the public from accidents. Associates at every level, including management, are responsible and accountable for the company’s overall safety initiatives. Complete and active participation by everyone, every day, in every job is necessary for the safety among all workers on the job site. Management supports participation in the program by all Associates and provides proper equipment, training and procedures. Associates are responsible for following all procedures, working safely, and, wherever possible, improving safety measures. An injury and accident-free workplace is our goal. Through continuous safety and loss control, we can accomplish this.

About the Work Environment…

This position is located at the Amsterdam, New York LEED® certified production facility. Most job functions are performed in a well-lit, environmentally controlled office environment. The candidate will also be required to work in an environment that requires hairnet, beard cover, safety glasses, hearing protection and lab coat. Restrictions include wearing of jewelry, nail polish and acrylic nails. Other personal protection equipment may be required for certain tasks.

What You’ll Do…

• Provide scientific risk assessments or scientific opinions as necessary to help in risk management decisions.
• Provide scientific supporting documentation for labeling claims such as nutrient content or structure function claims.
• Review and provide technical assistance in the creation of raw material and finished goods specifications to ensure all testing programs and their limits properly address the identified risks.
• Writes or approves all risk assessments and corrective actions needed to ensure new products with identified risks are being properly controlled during the New Product Innovation Stage Gate process.
• Responsible for review of specific food safety and quality data on a yearly basis for and implementing continuous improvements if necessary.
• Provide technical support to the Beech-Nut QA laboratory’s and help with creating of new methodology’s, new technologies and trouble shooting.
• Review scientific research, papers, lectures, seminars etc. and provide technical opinion to Beech-Nut QA and Food Safety experts for continuous improvement.
• Provide technical expertise and troubleshooting guidance to the Food Safety Risk Assessment and Food Safety Teams.
• Work with Hero’s Technical and Food Safety experts to determine risks, opportunities and help with scientific research as required.

Who You Are…

• Deciding and Initiating Action: You are able to make timely decisions while weighing risks. You act without being prompted and take responsibility for projects, people and mistakes.
• Analyzing: You are able to analyze all types of information using a wide range of sources. You draw well-reasoned conclusions and pinpoint key information from large data sets. You are able to identify themes and produce effective solutions.
• Learning and Researching: You rapidly learn new tasks and quickly commit information to memory. You ask key questions and use all relevant information to make decisions. You use mistakes as a learning opportunity and encourages others to learn from one another.
• Planning and Organizing: You are able to set clearly defined objectives, establish priorities, plan activities and project and manage time effectively. You monitor progress against deadlines and milestones.

What You’ll Need…

• Masters or Doctorate degree in related field (Food Science, Toxicology, Biochemistry, Nutrition etc.) and or 10+ year’s relevant experience in manufacturing or corporate quality for food industry.
• Proven experience in chosen scientific field and experience conducting research such as published scientific articles or implementation of science based projects at current or prior positions.
• In depth knowledge of the principles and practices of food safety.
• In depth knowledge of the current food safety (FDA, USDA) and food labeling regulations.
• In depth knowledge of food microbiology and food chemistry.
• Experience in hot fill and retort, preferably in the baby food or dairy processing industry.
• Better Process Control School
• Excellent knowledge of PCQI, Preventative Controls, Food Safety Plan, GMP, SSOP, Sanitation Performance Standards (SPS) and FDA & USDA regulations and requirements.
• Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook).
• Conceptual and practical experience with Lean principles.
• Experience using ERP systems (ex. SAP, Oracle)
• Preferred Certifications:
  • PCQI Certification
  • CQE Certification
  • HACCP Certification
  • Lean Certification
• Limited travel required.

We Also Offer…

Here at Beech-Nut we are devoted to creating a culture where our team members are professionally challenged and cared for personally. As a member of the Beech-Nut team, you will have access to competitive compensation, health benefits and various on-site amenities as well as opportunities for professional development and training. We are proud to offer our associates the following:

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision & prescription coverage for you and your dependents
• 401k with 4% Match
• Paid vacation and holidays
• Generous maternity/paternity benefits
• Baby food program until your child’s 2nd birthday

Amenities

• On-site fitness center
• On-site café catered by Mazzone Hospitality and PRIME Business Dining
• Community garden

Professional Development

• Tuition assistance
• Access to robust training programs

What it is like to live in upstate New York…

We are about 30 minutes northwest of Albany, the NY state capital, and 40 minutes southwest of Saratoga Springs. We are near major cultural events, outside recreation and places to have fun throughout the year. From watching the New York City Ballet or listening to Brad Paisley, Cardi B, Dave Matthews Band, Goo Goo Dolls, Willie Nelson, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Santana, or Tedeschi Trucks Band at Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), boating on beautiful Lake George, hiking the famous trails of the Adirondacks, or skiing at Lake Placid, you will find there is plenty to keep you, and/or, your family busy. And, if you are looking for the occasional big city attraction, it is a short drive to Boston, Montreal, and New York City.

As an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer, Beech-Nut Nutrition Company will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, and veteran or disability status.

To all agencies: All resumes submitted by search firms/employment agencies to any employee at Beech-Nut via-email, the internet or in any form and/or method will be deemed the sole property of Beech-Nut, unless such search firms/employment agencies were engaged by Beech-Nut for this position and a valid agreement is in place. In the event a candidate who was submitted outside of the Beech-Nut Nutrition agency engagement