Sr Food Technologist Jobs

Position: Senior Food Technologist/Engineer Strategy Development Continuous Improvement

Job Location: Hershey, PA

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Manager of US Continuous Improvement Strategy Development and working at the Technical Center in Hershey, PA, the Senior Food Technologist/Engineer position is responsible for developing future continuous improvement projects across the US Candy, Gum, and Mint portfolio.

This position assumes a technical leadership role in the identification and development of new continuous improvement projects and technology platforms to be delivered over a 3–5-year time horizon. A key responsibility will be to objectively evaluate opportunities to determine the feasibility of ideas with consideration given to technical feasibility, flavor quality, manufacturing impact, labeling concerns, consumer acceptance, and the savings value.

A successful candidate needs to be proficient at communicating technical subject matter both written and verbally to different audiences in the organization. They are adept at evaluating product and process changes that will improve product margin.

Role Responsibilities:

Specific Role Focus Area:

• Working knowledge of food science, quality assurance, and good manufacturing practices.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, exercising a moderate level of judgment in project execution.
• Interpersonal skills that allow for effective working relationships at all levels across the organization.
• Observing, recording, and evaluating experimental data to draw conclusions.
• Supporting supply chain continuity initiatives in collaboration with vendors of ingredients.
• Preparing project reports and presentations.
• Possess time management skills and the ability to prioritize and manage multiple priorities in an expedient manner, understanding the required business objectives, developing solutions and schedules, and efficient and expedient project executions.
• Problem solving and product troubleshooting through application of knowledge and creative thinking that will allow new ideas and platforms to advance through feasibility testing.
• Demonstrated application of food science and process engineering principles in developing manufacturing solutions with a sound understanding of the interaction between process unit operations and product physical and sensory properties.
• Possess working technical knowledge of product development and optimization, including manufacturing validation and implementation.
• Aligning key stakeholders and identifying potential challenges and interdependencies impacting projects and platforms.
• Leveraging knowledge, experience, and industry contacts to identify new continuous improvement platforms.
• Work closely with procurement and suppliers to understand future opportunities.
• Experience operating lab and pilot scale equipment/instrumentation and working in a manufacturing plant.
• Proficient computer literacy, fluent with Microsoft Office Suite
• Evaluate both the business case and technical feasibility of new project ideas resulting in a prioritized list of opportunities.

This role will interact and partner with:

• External Vendors
• Marketing and Consumer Research
• Quality and Regulatory Compliance
• Procurement, Planning, and Logistics
• Manufacturing, Operations and Plant Quality Assurance
• R&D and Engineering

This role will require 10-20 % travel in North America

Qualifications:

• Strong understanding of food chemistry principles and ingredient functionality is desirable.
• MS in Food Science, with 2-4 years of experience, or BS in Food Science/Engineering/ other technical degree with 4-6 years of experience.
• Analytical techniques related to the analysis of food - preferred
• Scale-up/plant test process experience
• Confectionery technology - preferred
• Value Analysis
• Operations/Manufacturing knowledge related to food production
• Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) for food plants

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The Hershey Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The policy of The Hershey Company is to extend opportunities to qualified applicants and employees on an equal basis regardless of an individual's race, color, gender, age, national origin, religion, citizenship status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other categories protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.

The Hershey Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Minority/Female/Disabled/Protected Veterans

If you require a reasonable accommodation as part of the application process, please contact the HR Service Center ([email protected]).