Sr. Scientist

Sr.

Scientist

Position Summary:
This role is a technical leader and primary formulator within the Seasonings and Ingredients R&D team at Land O'Lakes, Inc.

This Senior Scientist will drive innovation and commercialization of spray-dried dairy powders and seasonings, working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment that demands agility and proactive problem-solving.

The position requires strong collaboration with sales teams, direct engagement with customers, and cross-functional alignment to deliver differentiated solutions that meet customer needs.

This position is required to work on-site in Arden Hills a minimum of 4 days per week.
Key Responsibilities:


* Lead complex product development projects for cheese powders and seasonings, ensuring timely delivery to meet customer expectations.


* Serve as a technical liaison with customers, providing expertise, influencing decisions, and guiding development strategies.


* Apply advanced food science and dairy technology knowledge, including spray drying and ingredient functionality, to create innovative solutions.


* Design and execute robust experimental plans (DOE) to validate formulations and optimize processes.


* Champion technical rigor by documenting findings, sharing insights, and driving continuous improvement in formulation and process design.


* Collaborate cross-functionally with Marketing, Sales, Quality, Regulatory, and Manufacturing to ensure seamless commercialization.


* Provide technical leadership in the spray-dried powder space, proactively seeking process improvements and capability building.


* Participate in customer visits and plant trials, representing R&D with professionalism and clarity.

Required Qualifications:


* Bachelor's degree inFood Science, Dairy Science, Chemistry, Biochemistry, or related field.


* 6 or more years of experience in food product development or processing, with proven ability to lead projects independently.


* Expertise in dairy systems, spray drying, and cheese powder formulation.


* Strong understanding of product development lifecycle, process optimization, and foundational research principles.


* Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.


* Customer-centric approach, ensuring technical solutions align with business objectives and customer needs.


* Ability to travel 20% of the time.

Preferred Qualifications:


* Graduate degree (M.S.

or Ph.D.) in Food Science or related discipline.


* Advanced skills in Design of Experiments (DOE), data analysis, and interpretation using statistical tools.


* Strong communication and influencing skills, with experience presenting technical concepts to non-technical audiences.


* Ability to provide strategic consultation to internal teams and external customers.


* Business acumen to understand R&D's impact on profitability and customer value.

Travel:
Up to 20%, including customer meetings and pl...