Food Scientist - Meat Snacks

ConAgra Foods, Inc. (NYSE: CAG) is one of North America's leading packaged food companies, serving grocery retailers, as well as restaurants and foodservice establishments. The company employs more than 40,000 people and has annual revenues of $15 billion. ConAgra Foods offers dozens of famous brands such as: Healthy Choice, Van Camp's, Butterball, Armour, Parkay, Banquet, Hunt's, Peter Pan, Wesson, Marie Callender's, Slim Jim and Orville Redenbacher's.The ConAgra Foods culture supports strong, self-reliant leadership capable of working in an evolving and matrixed team environment. The down-to-earth, pragmatic environment is focused on results, and employees are passionate about making a difference.Facilitate product development, implementation, and production through the contribution of efficient process and product design.Develop a close functional relationship with team to review projects and contribute information and suggestions regarding product-processing requirements.Contribute guidance and suggestions early in the product development process that will improve delivery of functional product designs.Participate in pilot plant testing with product development team and pilot plant team.Actively contributes to adjustment and enhancement of the process and product.Prepare recommended manufacturing procedures for use in transition to plant production.Provide technical support for start-up operations in manufacturing.
Assist with installation of new processes and with manufacturing start-up at assigned plants to ensure designed manufacturing procedures are functional.
Revise and troubleshoot the process as needed to ensure successful production of desired products.
Prepare specs and fill out any associated quality control measures as applicable.Principal Challenges/Complexities:
Must maintain continuous awareness of a multitude of product development activities in manufacturing processes to identify opportunities to apply expertise and services.
Must effectively facilitate the transition of product development to production by developing effective working relationship with many different departments (R&D, Engineering, plant operation, QC, etc.).
Must maintain current knowledge of latest technologies available to food processing and must be able to effectively research new areas when technology is not known.
Maintain continuous awareness of current and potential plant capabilities.
Analyze process problems and determine causes and solutions through research and consultation with Engineering, vendors, plant operations, etc., often under pressure of extremely short time frames.Latitudes/Dimensions:
Works with significant independence throughout organizations.
Makes own decisions regarding use of time and resources on a multitude of projects with periodic supervisory review.Qualifications/ Education/Experience/Skills:BS in Food Science or related field plus a minimum of 3-4 years relevant work experience required.
MS in Food Science or related field plus 1-2 years relevant work experience preferred. Related fields include Meat Science, Nutrition, Food Chemistry, Food Engineering.
Experience in Product Development in a Food Company required, protein experience preferred.
Proven ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously.
Must possess high learning agility
Proficient in Microsoft Office Products.
May travel up to 40% of time. Must be able to travel independently and as a responsible CAG representative.Equipment Operation:
Must be capable in handling bench top equipment and be able to learn & operate pilot equipment.
Typical equipment will be such items as pumps and control panels for heat processing liquids.Physical Demands:
Frequent travel (primarily domestic) includes driving a company or rental automobile 4 to 6 hours as needed
Exposure to manufacturing processes and equipment for periodic extended workdays
Ability to lift up to 60 lbs
Understand and be capable of aseptic transfers of product to packages.
ConAgra Foods offers a competitive benefits package, including comprehensive medical, dental and vision plans; life insurance for yourself and your dependents; short-term and long-term disability plans; flexible spending accounts; 401(k) retirement savings plan and company paid pension plan. Additional benefits we offer include, but are not limited to, a stock purchase program; tuition reimbursement and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).ConAgra Foods, Inc. is committed to the provision of equal employment for all qualified persons in all job classifications in recruitment, selection and promotion without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, gender, veteran status or disability or any other protected characteristics.
REQUIREMENTS
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