SUMMARY
The Food Scientist II – Ingredient and Foodservice focus is responsible for leading research, development, scale‑up, and commercialization of new products, as initiated by external customers or internal partners. The focus is primarily on (but exclusively limited to) ingredient and foodservice products. The role collaborates cross‑functionally with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Procurement, Marketing, Sales, Supply Chain, and co‑manufacturers.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
- Customer & Commercialization Support
- Serves as the R&D lead for Salesforce opportunities, including custom sample requests, benchtop development, plant trials, and customer-focused innovation projects.
- Provides technical support through formulation, application testing, experimentation, and technical presentations to address customer needs and product performance challenges.
- Researches customer applications, market trends, and product attributes to identify opportunities that support growth of branded and custom product offerings.
- Facilitates product scale-up and commercialization activities through first production runs, ensuring alignment across R&D, operations, and commercial teams. This includes bench-top formulation, pilot‑scale & plant‑scale execution both internally and at co‑manufacturer locations.
Product Development & Technical Execution
- Leads and support product development activities including formulation development and optimization, ingredient evaluation, process validation, and troubleshooting.
- Partners with Operations on process improvement initiatives, alternate ingredient sourcing, manufacturing efficiencies, and validation testing.
- Collaborates with vendors and suppliers to evaluate ingredients, equipment, and technical specifications supporting development and commercialization efforts.
- Creates research protocols/standard operating procedures, technical reports, and commercialization documents.
- Coordinates informal and formal product evaluations and assessments to support product quality, performance, internal project direction, and consumer acceptance.
- Owns design, development, execution and report writing for product development trials, sensory evaluation, and shelf-life results, partnering with Sensory Team, Quality, and others where necessary.
Compliance, Performance & Business Support
- Ensure compliance with company safety, GMP, HACCP, and plant policies during product development, trials, and manufacturing activities.
- Support achievement of departmental and company objectives through execution of R&D initiatives, project management, and cross-functional collaboration.
- Maintain confidentiality of proprietary company and customer formulations, ingredients, processes, and development projects.
DIRECT REPORTS
This position is not responsible for leading others.
QUALIFICATIONS
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 accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor’s Degree in Food Science, Dairy Science, Food Chemistry, or Food Engineering, required. Master’s degree preferred. Equivalent combination of education and experience will also be considered.
- 2-5 years of experience in food product development or manufacturing, required.
- Strong background in pilot and plant scale‑up required.
- Experience with yogurt, cottage cheese, natural cheese, dairy processing, sensory, or with converting and packaging equipment, desirable.
OTHER KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
- Alignment with Company Values: Demonstrates behaviors and values that reflect the company’s culture. Sartori’s core values are family, commitment, authenticity, ingenuity, integrity, and humility.
- Organizational and Time Management Skills - Ability to manage and navigate priorities while meeting deadlines, anticipating needs, and proactively resolving issues
- Collaborative – partners with team members to realize better results and make a positive impact; engages stakeholders to gather diverse perspectives and foster shared understanding.
- Accuracy – Ensures precision and attention to detail in all tasks, maintaining high standards for data integrity, documentation, and work output. Consistently produces error-free work and carefully reviews information to prevent mistakes.
- Communicates effectively – Demonstrates excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to articulate thoughts and express ideas to any audience and actively listen to understand.
- Learning agility & intellectual curiosity - Ability to quickly adapt to new challenges, acquire new skills, and apply knowledge in evolving environments. Proactively seeks opportunities to expand expertise, explore innovative solutions, and stay informed of industry trends and best practices.
- Decision quality – Makes sound and timely decisions, using a mixture of analysis of information, experience, and judgement, weighs risks and benefits.
- Resilience – remains composed and effective under pressure, maintaining focus and productivity in evolving environments; recovers quickly from setbacks and persists in the face of challenges.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
WORK LOCATION
This is an onsite position located at our Pleasant View office building in Plymouth, WI.
TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
Occasional travel may be required to meet the needs of the business (estimated 15%). A valid driver’s license is required.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a Team Member to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the Team Member is frequently required to stand, walk, use hands to handle or feel, and talk or hear. The Team Member is occasionally required to reach with hands or arms, taste or smell. The Team Member must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Specific vision abilities required in this job include close, distance, and color vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
WORK SETTING / ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a Team Member encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the Team Member may be exposed to hazardous substances as outlined in the Chemical Hygiene Plan. The noise level in the work environment is occasionally loud.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by Team Members assigned to this work. This is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. Sartori Company reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet organizational and business needs as necessary.
