Join Riverside Natural Foods Ltd., a $300 million+ Canadian-based, family-owned, and globally operating business, committed to leaving the world better than we found it. As a B-Corp certified, Triple-Bottom Line company, we proudly manufacture nutritious, 'better-for-you' snacks such as MadeGood and GOOD TO GO. We value teamwork, humility, respect, ownership, adaptability, grit, and fun.

We’re on an ambitious mission to double our business by 2027, and we need talented individuals like you to help us reach new heights. At Riverside, you’ll have the opportunity to chart your own path to success while contributing to ours. We believe anything worth doing is worth doing right, and our values will guide us through the rugged terrain – and yes, it will get rough. But that’s what makes the journey worthwhile.

So, lace up your boots and let’s tackle the climb together.

You can learn more about us at www.riversidenaturalfoods.com.

The Senior Food Scientist on the Technical Innovation team will be responsible for driving innovation and bringing new formulations to life. The Senior Food Scientist will be a creative self-starter with a strong understanding of ingredient functionality and manufacturing processes and how to leverage them into winning innovations. The candidate should be a strong developer of new food products, from concept to functional prototype.

The ideal candidate should be a strategic thinker who can leverage scientific principles to make quick and informed decisions. They should be able to navigate complex technical challenges nimbly and translate scientific findings into actionable insights. This role requires someone who is comfortable with ambiguity and change, able to adapt to evolving priorities and challenges, and possesses the grit to overcome steep obstacles.

The successful candidate should embody Riverside’s core values and be a role model for the team. They should be passionate about science and committed to delivering honest results.

Primary Responsibilities

Demonstrate and uphold Riverside’s Core Values

Identify innovative new opportunities to meet Riverside’s current needs and future growth plans within branded, incubator and private label pillars. Including but not limited to:

Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify new technology or growth opportunities

Keep abreast of industry trends, new technologies and ingredients in the global snack marketplace and beyond

Attend trade shows, seminars, customer/vendor meetings, etc. as needed

Build collaborative relationships with existing or new ingredient vendor partners on innovative use of existing or new ingredients

Complete proof of principle research and testing to ensure feasibility and readiness of new products for refinement and launch in large scale manufacturing. Including but not limited to:

Use scientific methods to define testing methodology

Perform testing at lab scale, pilot scale or potentially full-scale manufacturing trials both internally and externally to ensure feasibility

Use sound scientific evidence to seek truth, rather than success or failure. Use this information to make informed decisions and provide actionable insights

Clearly communicate complex topics to cross-functional and non-technical stakeholders

Collaborates with brand marketing teams to define concepts and flavours, ensuring alignment with market & consumer trends, brand guardrails and technical feasibility

Manages complex projects involving multiple stakeholders. Develop full technical timelines and holds team members accountable.

Develop new base recipes and flavours in line with required brand attributes, cost targets, timelines, certifications (e.g. Kosher, Organic, Vegan, Gluten-Free, etc.), and other relevant food safety, regulatory and quality parameters

Develop and maintain accurate project records to ensure seamless transitions of project ownership and capture learnings from project successes and failures

Respect and promote the company’s health and safety program, maintaining a safe working environment and ensure the continued compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety act and JHSC recommendations

Independently manage timeline and documentation of personal project load

Demonstrate adaptability when faced with changes to project scope and timelines, anticipate and provide risk assessments and mitigation plans

Provide training, mentorship and technical support of fellow R&D and Technical Innovation colleagues. Support onboarding of new staff as needed

May have the opportunity to supervise co-op student(s)

Other duties as required

Reporting Relationships

The position reports to the Manager of Technical Innovation.

Co-op students may report to the Senior Food Scientist.

Education & Qualifications

Post-secondary degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Chemistry, Engineering, or related field

Experience in Food Research and Development (5+ years), ideally a portion in food/recipe/product innovation development

Experience working in kitchens, laboratories, pilot plants, and/or manufacturing facilities

Experience in bakery, slab, sweet or savoury snack foods, confectionary, dessert, inclusions, or chocolate is preferred

Proficient with MS Office, MS Outlook, MS Excel, SharePoint. Experience with Genesis, Specright, Monday.com an asset

Skills & Abilities

Proactive and self-motivated; able to see gaps and take OWNERSHIP to fill them without being asked

Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, driven to seek honest answers

Disciplined; uses food science fundamentals and maintains technical rigour in everyday work

Demonstrated ADAPTABILITY and GRIT when faced with setbacks, rapid change and ambiguity

Creative flair; pushes the boundaries to find unconventional solutions

Embraces discomfort, HUMBLE and excited to explore new challenges and territories

PASSIONATE for innovation and brings enthusiasm daily

Deep desire for knowledge, personal skill development and career growth

Exceptional time management and organizational skills; can function independently

Known as a TEAM player, who is skilled in collaboration and operates with RESPECT

Demonstrates leadership skills and the ability to mentor junior team members

Ability to sample Riverside brands’ products and ingredients or products of interest

Ability to travel regularly to Riverside manufacturing sites (Toronto/Vaughan area) and occasionally nationally/internationally (5%)

What We Expect

Values-led: You’ll be a member of a thoughtful and compassionate team that prioritizes respect, teamwork and resourcefulness along with a good dash of fun. Sometimes, even making granola bars is hard, and life’s too short to take ourselves so seriously that we don’t enjoy the journey.

Unparalleled experiences and opportunities: We’re still determining who we are and what we can be. Help us shape what this organization will look like and what we’ll offer the world, into the future. This means rolling up your sleeves and sometimes building the process – fast! – while employing it. At Riverside, progress occasionally means proceeding imperfectly, and we’re okay with that, as long as we’re staying true to our values and learning and improving along the way.

Access to everyone: We’re a flat organization with few silos which means you’ll have full access to everyone from our founders to our production staff. Even when employees dress up, they wear steel-toed shoes. So don’t be shy. Speak up, share your ideas and go places you normally wouldn’t – like the plant, or the boardroom.

Personal development: We’ll support and empower you to chart your own path and reach any heights you set for yourself. Career paths at Riverside are carved by the people walking on them, not dictated by leaders. Count on us to give you the training and tools to grow and progress.

Gratitude: As a growing business, we can’t always offer formal recognition like awards programs, but we do show our true gratitude and appreciation. At Riverside, we’re all in this together and we value you.

What We Offer

Values-led: We don’t cut corners or step on anyone or anything on our way to our summit. There is no winning at all costs here. Every step you take must align with our values, no compromises.

Courageous determination: As a family-run, rapidly growing business, we are often challenged to find ways to deliver that aren’t obvious or easy. You must be willing to try, ask and answer challenging questions, test and learn, turn over every stone, keep moving forward and help us find a way through. Resourcefulness and grit will be your constant companions at Riverside and will serve you well.

Humility: We’re a small (but growing) fish in a sea of whales and sharks. We know the products we offer are some of the healthiest and most sustainable, but we don’t brag about it, and know we have a steep path ahead. We pride ourselves in being respectful and supportive of others while shining brightly through our innovative, high-quality products. There isn’t one superstar at Riverside. We take turns leading the way as we climb to the summit.

Continuous improvement: As a learn-as-we-go organization, we rely on each other to continuously improve everything we touch to make it better, more efficient, more sustainable, and more endearing to customers, consumers, employees, vendors, partners and the community. We own our mistakes and learn from them as we wind our way to the top.

Wait! There’s more!

Immerse yourself in our comprehensive benefits program, with Riverside taking care of the costs!

RRSP matching or IRA matching for an empowered financial journey

Join Employee-Led Resource Groups (ERGs) championing mental health, sustainability, diversity, women, and LGBTQ+ rights

Develop your career further through our Riverside University program and with our Tuition Reimbursement Program

An open concept work environment that embodies our Values

How To Apply

If you have the commitment to excellence, the energy, the attitude and experience we need, then please submit your resume to careers(AT)riversidenaturals.com with the job title you are applying for in the subject line or click the apply button!

Riverside Natural Foods Ltd. is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible environment for everyone. If you have a disability and require accommodation in the interview process, please let us know when you apply. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, due to volume, please note that only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Riverside Natural Foods Ltd. (Home of MadeGood) jobs

Sr. Food Scientist