The Krusteaz Company is looking for a Plant Food Technologist to join the team! The Plant Food Technologist is the key technical link between R&D, Plant Operations, and Quality at our Effingham Plant. In this role they will provide expertise that improves product quality, reduces waste, increases efficiency, supports cost savings, and helps bring new products and improvements to market. This role will work cross-functionally to ensure formulas, packaging, plant trials, and innovation projects align with manufacturing capabilities, quality standards, and commercialization goals.

Essential Functions: Other duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or be assigned at any time.

Serve as a technical liaison between R&D, Manufacturing, Quality, and Supply Chain within the plant.
Provide technical expertise to support product quality, operational efficiency, waste reduction, and cost improvement initiatives.
Partner cross-functionally to facilitate effective communication, issue resolution, and project execution.
Oversee formulation, process, and packaging trials within the plant.
Partner with R&D, Innovation, and PMO teams to support new product launches, formula changes, and commercialization activities.
Ensure products and processes are optimized for manufacturing capabilities, quality standards, and operational requirements.
Manage and maintain the plant product formula portfolio.
Optimize products and processes to improve quality, manufacturability, efficiency, cost, waste, and sanitation performance.
Support ingredient and packaging standardization efforts and shelf-life extension initiatives.
Partner with Quality and Operations to investigate product quality concerns, consumer complaints, and process deviations.
Lead root cause analysis and corrective action development for formulation and manufacturing-related issues.
Identify and implement continuous improvement opportunities that enhance product consistency, operational performance, and food safety.
Provide technical guidance and training to plant and cross-functional teams.
Apply scientific principles, experimentation, and data analysis to support product and process improvements.
Communicate technical findings and recommendations effectively to diverse audiences.

Position Requirements: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to enable individuals qualified with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Strong understanding of R&D, Quality, and Manufacturing functions, with the ability to effectively collaborate across cross-functional teams.
Demonstrated technical expertise in ingredient functionality, formulation, food processing, packaging systems, and quality standards within a manufacturing environment.
Knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) expectations and ability to operate effectively within a plant manufacturing environment.
Ability to translate plant capabilities, constraints, and operational requirements into actionable recommendations that support product development, commercialization, and manufacturing performance.
Strong analytical, troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and problem-solving skills, with experience applying structured problem-solving tools.
Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional projects, influence stakeholders, and drive results in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Excellent communication, facilitation, and relationship-management skills, with the ability to effectively engage business leaders, plant personnel, customers, auditors, and cross-functional partners.
Proven ability to manage multiple priorities, execute with strong follow-through, and deliver results through collaboration and influence.

Education and/or Experience:

Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, Food Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related technical field.
5+ years of experience in food product development, process development, manufacturing support, technical services, or a related role.
Experience leading plant trials, commercialization activities, and product optimization projects within a food manufacturing environment.
Experience with frozen and refrigerated food products preferred.

Get to know us: Learn more about our Effingham Plant and Culture.

Benefits: We are proud to offer generous benefits including comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance (starting at $105/month for employee-only coverage on the PPO Plan or starting at $45/month for employee-only coverage on the HDHP), 401(K) matching, 3 weeks of paid vacation, 10 paid holidays, 1 paid personal holiday, company provided life insurance and disability insurance, flexible spending account, healthcare saving account, voluntary accident insurance, voluntary critical illness insurance, and tuition reimbursement. Learn more about our Benefits.

Salary Information: An employee in this position can expect a salary range between $82,713 and $122,894. We typically pay out between $87,000 and $111,000. The actual salary offered will be carefully considered based on a wide range of factors, including internal equity, experience, education, certification, training, and location. All positions are eligible for additional incentives based on business performance.

Physical Demands & Work Environment:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, sit, talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone along with reaching. Specific vision abilities include close vision requirements due to computer work. Moderate noise, ability to work in a confined area, and ability to sit at a computer for extended periods of time.

The policy of Continental Mills, Inc. dba The Krusteaz Company is to hire, train, and promote all persons in all job groups in accordance with law, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital or military status, national origin, gender identity, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, genetic information, or any other status or characteristic protected by local, state, or federal law.

The Krusteaz Company is not sponsoring new applicant employment authorization at this time, and please, no third-party recruiters.

The Krusteaz Company

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Plant Food Technologist