Job Information
Hy-Vee Food Stores Food Scientist Research and Development Supervisor in Ankeny, Iowa
At Hy-Vee our people are our strength. We promise “a helpful smile in every aisle” and those smiles can only come from a workforce that is fully engaged and committed to supporting our customers and each other.
Job Description:
Job Title: Research and Development Supervisor
Location: Hy-Vee Fresh Commissary
FLSA: Non-Exempt
General Function:
The Research and Development Supervisor will assist the R&D Director in leading the R&D team to create and launch new food products, maintain and reformulate existing food products, develop and maintain product labels and packaging, and provide support and assistance to production and quality control operations.
Reporting Relations:
Accountable and Reports to: Group Vice President, Commissaries; Technical Director, Compliance and Food Protection
Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
Perform activities relevant to the R&D process including conceptualization, formula development or reformulation of existing food products, qualification of new suppliers through proper formulation and organoleptic evaluation, scale up and standardization, and commercialization of new products.
Supervise and participate in bench top sample preparation to assist in the development of new food products.
Lead execution of plant trials without supervision including process and procedure verification, ingredient verification, label verification, food safety, and product logistics.
Provide culinary guidance throughout the commercialization process for new and reformulated products. Supervise internal sensory tests for new products, ingredients, and packaging.
Lead teams and provide guidance on the reformulation of existing products to meet cost, nutrition, and labeling objectives (i.e. cost optimization, sodium & sugar reduction, clean label).
Support the start-up and launch of new/optimized products.
Assist labeling team with USDA and FDA product labeling, including but not limited to initial nutritional analysis, label creation and formatting, label verification, ingredient audits, label changes, and allergen verification and management during recipe development and on the market products.
Assist in the development, maintenance and distribution of product specifications for Hy-Vee Foods products.
Oversee record keeping of research and development activities, including but not limited to accurate formulas, procedures, requirements, yield data and preparation/production notes.
Provide weekly project status reports to management.
Supervise ingredient sourcing and auditing to support the qualification of new suppliers.
Assist procurement team with the addition of new products, vendors, and qualification of secondary suppliers/ingredients.
Assist with ingredient audits and product labeling.
Trains and supervises others as appropriate.
Reports to work when scheduled and on time.
Adheres to company policies and departmental guidelines.
Secondary Duties and Responsibilities:
Perform other duties as assigned.
Maintain kitchen environment and Research and Development storage areas according to company standards for cleanliness and organization.
Assist with the maintenance of ingredient records.
Provide support and assistance to production operations as needed.
Skills and Abilities Required to Perform Job:
Have the ability to work in a fast paced start-up environment – skilled at planning, organizing, prioritizing, and executing simultaneous projects and activities.
Must be knowledgeable of warehouse distribution, safety programs, procedures, USDA and FDA laws and regulations, sanitation practices and standards.
Excellent verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
Attention to detail, follow through, and proven supervisory skills.
Ability to read and interpret laws and regulatory guidelines.
Ability to handle confidential information.
Education and Experience:
Bachelor of Science preferred - Food Science or related
3+ years of experience in food manufacturing and/or product development.
3+ years of experience in scaling from bench top samples to commercialization.
Knowledge of FDA and USDA regulations and nutrition labeling.
Physical Requirements:
Must be able to physically perform light work exerting up to 20-pounds of force occasionally.
Visual requirements include vision from less than 20-inches to more than 20-feet with or without correction, depth perception, color vision, and field of vision.
Must be able to perform the following physical activities: Climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, reaching, standing, walking, pulling, pushing, lifting, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing and repetitive motions.
Working Conditions:
Duties mostly in an office or lab setting (climate controlled)
Will be required to work in production or seek supplies in warehouse as needed.
Frequent deadlines exist while handling multiple tasks.
Daily contact occurs with employees and office personnel.
Daily contact with Governmental regulatory agencies including USDA, and FDA.
Equipment Used to Perform Job:
Personal Computer, photo copier, fax machine and office phone system. Occasional use of tools, knives, machinery to help on the production floor.
Are you ready to smile, apply today.