Senior Scientist

Chicago, IL

Research and Development

Learn more about the general tasks related to this opportunity below, as well as required skills.

Job Type : Full-time

JOB TITLE : Senior Scientist

LOCATION : Chicago, IL

Lactalis Heritage Dairy is currently seeking candidates to join our team in Chicago!

Lactalis Group, the world leader in dairy, is a family-owned business with more than 85,000 pragmatic and ambitious professionals worldwide, committed to providing healthy and delicious dairy products that bring people together every day.

At Lactalis, our core values of AMBITION, ENGAGEMENT, and SIMPLICITY are at the heart of everything we do.

If you’re looking for a unique experience with a company that offers strong brands, professional expertise, and a dynamic work environment that champions entrepreneurial spirit, hands-on responsibility, and real opportunity for career development, we want to hear from you!

Key Responsibilities :

• Provide technical knowledge on a variety of projects to improve quality, yields, or address any areas identified by the company to enhance products or production processes.
• Propose ideas for new products.
• Organize pilot plant or plant trials, interpret results, and assist in process development.
• Write well-structured thorough reports with proper conclusions and recommendations.
• Work with plant and engineering in conducting feasibility studies for new product development and product improvement.
• Develop good relationships with other departments (Marketing, Purchasing, Packaging, Manufacturing, QA, Legal).
• Explore and evaluate ways to improve all aspects of production, including raw materials, production techniques, specifications, packaging, and shelf life.
• Participate in Quality Assurance activities, including HACCP analysis, good manufacturing practices, labeling, and standards of identity.
• Coordinate all support activities, maintaining complex technical notes and records of activity.
• Ensure confidentiality of our processes and information.
• Participate in patent searches to protect company business and ensure that all findings are documented and recorded.
• Develop and maintain contacts inside Lactalis USA R&D network and with industry and academic contacts to remain current in technical developments.
• Act as a Research & Development Technician for all routine pilot plant activities.

Requirements :

• Master’s degree (M.S.) or equivalent in Dairy or Food Science.
• 3-5 years of industry experience.
• Excellent cheese process knowledge.
• Strong food technology knowledge (Microbiology / Physics / Biochemistry / Process).
• Strong mathematics knowledge including statistics.
• Strong communication skills (written and verbal) to lead / communicate with cross-functional departments, manufacturing facilities, technicians, suppliers, etc.
• Strong computer skills with knowledge of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for report writing and presentations.
• Ability to travel up to 30% of the time for pilot plant trials, industrial trials, training, and focus groups.

Lactalis Heritage Dairy is an equal employment opportunity employer. We will not discriminate against applicants with regard to any legally-recognized basis including, but not limited to : veteran status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and physical or mental disabilities.

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