Food Scientist, Product Development

About Kate Farms

Kate Farms is a company with heart. Our company was founded on the belief that good nutrition leads to good health, and good health opens the door to endless possibilities. That's why our mission is to make nutrition the cornerstone of healthcare so people can live their best lives. We are a medical food company that makes complete nutrition formulas for people who have a medical need for liquid nutrition.

Kate Farms works to be the place where a diverse mix of talented individuals want to come, stay, and do their best work. Ensuring a diverse and inclusive workplace where we learn from each other is at the core of Kate Farms' values. We are an equal-opportunity employer and fully focused on equality; we believe deeply in diversity of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, national origin, and all the other fascinating characteristics that make us different. We invite you to do the best work of your life with us at Kate Farms.

Position Overview

We are seeking a self-starting, independent, detail-oriented, and innovative Scientist to join our Product Development team. This person will perform laboratory product development tasks and will work independently, as well as under guidance, on complex formulations. They will play a crucial role in developing exciting new products and renovating current products by leading and progressing multiple projects in different stages of the development cycle from concept to commercialization. This Scientist will have strong knowledge in food science principles and be able to apply scientific method and logic to formulation and manufacturing process. They will develop experimental designs to confirm stability and label claims across shelf life, evaluate sensory profiles of products (both internally and externally) ensuring the formulation conforms to Kate Farms customer expectations, troubleshoot formula/process design failures, and qualify ingredient substitutions and optimizations.

What You Will Do

• Conduct benchtop experiments and/or participate in laboratory activities to support Product Development team members
• Execute all assigned projects and ensure alignment with project brief by collaborating with Brand, Medical Sciences, and Nutritional Sciences
• Execute formula changes to existing formulas to meet new nutrient and stability targets
• Assist senior team members with general product development tasks, including but not limited to lab/pilot plant data collection and analysis, equipment/system qualification/verification
• Lead root cause analysis exercises and generate, analyze, and interpret lab/pilot plant data to make recommendations
• Perform lab/pilot plant experimentation in support of qualification of alternate ingredients or manufacturing sites
• Independently conduct shelf-life studies, sensory evaluations, and nutritional analyses of new products
• Work closely with Quality Control and Supply/Procurement teams to develop and set food quality and manufacturing standards
• Analyze nutritional results to inform formulation and ensure macro and micronutrient label claims are met
  
  
  

We Are Looking For Someone Who

• BS in Food Science or related field. Preference given to candidates with advanced degrees, or for those with 2+ years of food/beverage product development experience.
• Plant-based formulation experience is desired
• Strong preference given to professionals with education or experience in development/commercialization of nutritional beverages
• Developed knowledge of aseptic manufacturing processes, specifically UHT RTD beverages. Consideration given to candidates with experience in dry blending, spray drying, or retorting in addition to liquid beverage experience
• Proficiency in MS Office with exceptional Excel skills
• Self-motivated, deadline driven, and able to think and work independently. Project management acumen is desired
• Excellent interpersonal, collaboration, and communication (written and oral) skills
• Strong commitment to company mission and values
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
• Respectfully shares and accepts feedback willingly from all levels of the organization
  
  

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Effectively handle lifting of various objects weighing up to 25 pounds.

While performing the essential functions of the job, the employee will be required to bend, stoop, kneel, reach, and climb stairs.

Possess the ability to sit at a computer for extended periods of time.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

This position will work in a home/office environment with weekly on-site work at the Kate Farms HQIQ Center (3 days/wk minimum) and requires occasional visits to manufacturing sites, supplier offices, and other meeting locations. May require 10% travel.

It is Kate Farms policy that any position that requires regular interaction with healthcare professionals require that, if hired, you be vaccinated against COVID-19 unless you need a reasonable accommodation due to sincerely held religious beliefs, medical needs, or other reasons protected by applicable federal, state, and local law.

In compliance with Colorado's Equal Pay for Equal Work Act (EPEWA), New York City's Human Rights Law (NYCHRL), and California's Pay Transparency bill (SB 1162) we are disclosing the compensation, or a range thereof, for roles that will be, or could be performed in Colorado, New York City, or California. If the position applied to is not located in Colorado, NYC, or California, the following information may not apply. The annual base for this position ranges between $89,114-$113,872. The base salary range above represents the low and high end of the Kate Farms salary range for this position. This range will vary and may be above or below the range based on various factors including but not limited to location, experience, internal pay