At CJ Schwan’s, we don’t just make food — we help create moments that matter. From kids devouring pizza after soccer practice, to students laughing over dumplings in a cafeteria, to families enjoying pie during the holidays, our team members play an important role in bringing those everyday moments to life. Our portfolio includes iconic pizzas, global flavors and timeless desserts from brands like Red Baron®, bibigo®, Tony’s®, Big Daddy’s®, Freschetta®, Pagoda®, Edwards® and Mrs. Smith’s®. Enjoyed in homes, schools, restaurants and just about everywhere people shop and eat, our products reflect a commitment to quality, innovation and the power of food to bring people together. 

We are seeking a Senior Food Scientist for our wrapped foods group and platforms to join our R&D team in Marshall, MN!  In this role, you will primarily work on our frozen pizza brands portfolio focusing on new product development, innovation and product improvement in the retail and food service markets. Additionally, projects will include finding efficiencies and synergies in materials, evaluating ingredient alternatives, optimizing formulas, and enhancing ingredient functionality.

What You Will Do:

• Performing bench work to find creative solutions, conducting plant trials, trend & technology research, and communicating findings and recommendations to leadership and cross functional partners
• Designing and conducting plant trials and new product start-ups
• Sourcing ingredient alternatives, optimize formulas, and enhance ingredient functionality for cost savings and product improvement
• Conceptualize and develop new product prototypes for multiple concurrent projects
• Creating & adhering to product development schedules to meet project timelines
• Handle product cuttings, testing and other duties as assigned
• Identify new trends, technologies and processes to further advance our team

What We Look For:

• Bachelor’s degree in food science or related field; Master's degree preferred
• 5+ years of combined relevant work experience in food product design, formulation, ingredient functionality and interaction, process design, product scale-up, plant testing and commercialization; previous R&D experience in fried products, dough, vegetable and meat processing is highly preferred
• Good understanding of fundamental principles of food science and technology, along with standard food micro, lab best practices and procedures
• Knowledge of food industry standards of quality and food safety, GMPs, HACCP, food labeling and FDA/USDA regulations
• General culinary knowledge and passion for global food is beneficial

What We Offer: 

The base salary range for this position is $75,000 to $125,000 annually with eligibility for a 10% annual incentive bonus, that is based on organizational performance. The pay range represents the numerous factors considered in the hiring decisions including, but not limited to educations, skills, work experience, certifications, geography etc. As such, starting pay for the successful candidate(s) could fall anywhere within the stated range.  

Beyond base salary, we offer a competitive Total Rewards package designed to support your overall well-being, including comprehensive health benefits, time off programs, and retirement and financial offerings.

CJ Schwan’s and its subsidiaries are Equal Opportunity Employers. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, disability, veteran status, national origin, or any other protected characteristic. We provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities or sincerely held religious beliefs. For accommodation requests or assistance with the application, please email [email protected].

Education: Bachelor of Science or Masters degree (U.S. or foreign) or equivalent in Food Science, Dairy Science,Foods & Nutrition Studies, Biological Sciences, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and/orproduct development experience.

Years of Related Experience: 5-8 years related experience with BS, 2-4 years related experience with Masters, or 0-2years related experience with Ph.D

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities: Advanced communication and interpersonal skills. Advanced PC skills including MicrosoftOffice Suite particularly Excel and Word; advanced knowledge of Algebra, Geometry, Physics, Chemistry, andStatistics; solid knowledge and understanding of food ingredients, food chemistry, food processing, and foodfunctionality; must be able to comprehend technical articles, research papers, or presentation; must be able to applyadvanced technical knowledge learned; advanced ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, draw validconclusions, and offer solutions; ability to taste and ingest any type of food product currently under development.Preferred experience in Product Development.

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications associated with the job. An individual must be able to perform all ofthe duties and responsibilities listed in a fully competent manner to be considered successful in the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individualswith disabilities to perform essential duties and responsibilities.