R&D Food Scientist

Butterball, LLC, one of America’s most iconic brands, helps consumers celebrate Thanksgiving and every day in between. Located in the thriving Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina area, our goal is to provide a diverse array of career opportunities and paths which include our farms, processing facilities and support offices.

We are the largest producer of turkey products in the U.S., and we make a lot more than Thanksgiving turkeys. Our company’s measurable growth is in no small part due to our team members in North Carolina, Arkansas, Illinois, and Missouri, who each have a seat at the table to contribute to our success

Job Summary :

Guides product development and process improvement efforts in Renovation R&D by organizing, managing, and coordinating key projects from conception to commercialization.

Provides technical support to the operations, sales, and marketing teams.

Essential Functions, Duties & Responsibilities :

• Organizes and coordinates the R&D activities of assigned projects to ensure work is properly prioritized and completed in timely manner to deliver results.
• Executes new products from conception to commercialization by working with sales, marketing, operation, purchasing, and quality assurance.
• Maintains external and marketplace awareness related to new concepts, products, ingredients, and technologies.
• Engages team members to communicate and guides technical support for development of new products and technologies.
• Identifies and recommends new raw materials, ingredients, materials, and processes that improve products and reduce cost.
• Identifies, tests, and implements new processes and product formulas that lead to new products, cost savings, and quality improvements.
• Applies scientific principles to project designs, data analysis, and summarization.
• Provides technical support to operations to ensure product excellence and cost efficiency.
• Provides technical support to the Marketing and Sales teams to service existing customers and help gain new ones.
• Supports continuous improvement opportunities and solutions directed at improving profitability, product quality, food safety, and capital avoidance.
• Seeks to enhance technical skills through project experience, seminars, professional conference, and training programs.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities :

• Strong oral and written communication, analytical, time-management, and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in food technology, ingredient technology and food processing.
• Experience with new product launches.
• Firm problem-solving and creative thinking skills.
• Demonstrated ability to use new technology to significantly improve profitability, product quality, food safety and manufacturing complexity issues.
• Solid project management skills with the ability to impact results.
• Proficient in MS office suite.

Education & Experience :

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science or related field.
• 3+ years of relevant experience or the knowledge, skills, and abilities to succeed in the role.
• Industry experience managing research and development projects.

Preferred :

Poultry science / poultry processing experience.

Working Conditions :

• Occasional Office work, manufacturing work in cold, wet environments, and occasional lifting items up to 50 lbs.
• Travel this position will be required to travel to plant facilities as needed for conduction pilot plant testing, commercialization scale up support and capturing data.

At times travel could be up to 50%. Expectation would be at least 2 days / week in Mount Olive potentially more pending project needs.

The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of what is required of personnel so classified.

Furthermore, they do not imply or establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.

Butterball, LLC is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to the fair and impartial treatment of all employees and applicants for employment without regard to gender, age, race, religion, color, national origin, physical or mental disability, military / veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, marital status, parental status, pregnancy, or any other status protected by law.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of what is required of personnel so classified.

Furthermore, they do not imply or establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.

Butterball, LLC is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to the fair and impartial treatment of all employees and applicants for employment without regard to gender, age, race, religion, color, national origin, physical or mental disability, military / veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, marital status, parental status, pregnancy, or any other status protected by law.

This position is deemed Safety Sensitive for purposes of Butterball’s Drug / Alcohol Screening & Testing Policy. Details will be provided to individuals who receive a conditional job offer, or upon request.