Food Technologist - Protein Components

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.To support the development and commercialization of new, improved and cost-reduced Protein meal components, primarily for Banquet branded products. Performs technical project assignments and develops innovative approaches for achieving specific project objectives under minimal supervision. Collaborates with other functional areas, particularly Process & Packaging Development, Marketing, Purchasing and Operations. Must be team oriented with strong communications skills. Technologist may work alone, but more likely with peers and/or superiors from other departments within project work teams. Assignments will involve travel occasionally to company plants and suppliers. Work is usually performed in an office/laboratory complex. Knowledge of basic product design, ingredient functionality and formulation is required. Knowledge of food product testing procedures and experience with fried, and or baked cooking methods of preparing chopped and formed through whole muscle, chicken, beef and pork products, Food processing and or Culinary skills beneficial but not required. Technical knowledge in the area of Meat Science is preferred.Position Responsibilities
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.Prepares, enters, and maintains specifications within the current system, including label verifications and appropriate level approvals of products before approval for start-up production.Participates in the current product commercialization process in a role appropriate function and accountability level. 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.Principal Challenges/Complexities: Understanding of the principals involved in preparation, moving, depositing and Freezing of food products, including the effect on eating quality, texture, synerhesis,
and shelf-life, including knowledge of various commercial methods of freezing food products.Must maintain continuous awareness of a multitude of product development activities in manufacturing processes to identify opportunities to apply expertise and services. Familiar with production processes and line configuration of the production lines in appropriate facilities in order to develop products that fit these capabilities. Maintaining continuous awareness of current and potential plant capabilities in order to develop and deploy new technology product executions.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 or does not exist within ConAgra Foods Inc.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.Reviews outcomes and progress with proper referral of authority for cost and quality decision out of original defined project scopes to Manager or Director.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.Position Responsibilities: (documents and activity specific)
Formulation of new and or modified products.
Joint ownership of creating project timelines with proper inputs
Compliance with project timelines or notification of manager or director as to deviations
Flowcharts, specifications, processing procedures, product prototypes,
Lead Pilot plant and in-plant testing efforts
Quality parameters for new products
Works Collaboratively with others in department and cross-functionally on project teamsQualifications/ Education/Experience/Skills:B.S. in Food Science plus a minimum of 2 years experience with basic product design, ingredient functionality and formulation is required.
M.S. in Food Science plus 1 year experience with above is preferred.
Proficient in MS Office products including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
Previous experience with or exposure to Nutritional Modeling preferred.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 a liquefiers, pumps and control panels for heat processing liquids through kettles, steam infusion, steam injection, and scrape surface heat exchangers. Be capable to perform post-cook analysis of quality and consistency of sauces, gravies, fillings, meat portions, and vegetable components using given technologies, resources and laboratory equipment available.
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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