Job Description:Tropicana Brands Group R&D is looking for a highly qualified Scientist to support productivity projects, quality improvement initiatives, systems and process development, and select consumer-driven innovation. The ideal candidate will be a curious, hands-on, detail-oriented product developer with strong math and technical calculation skills, strong Excel and PowerPoint capability, and effective communication and collaboration skills in a fast-paced environment.
As part of an entrepreneurial culture, the ideal candidate will bring an ownership mindset, a consumer-first approach, a process-minded way of working, and a willingness to learn and grow within a nimble R&D organization. Comfort working through ambiguity, adapting quickly, managing details accurately, and applying sound technical judgment is important. Successful candidates enjoy hands-on beverage product development, structured documentation, and cross-functional collaboration while contributing to well-established and loved brands within a growing beverage company.
The position is based in Chicago, IL.
Responsibilities include: - Execute productivity initiatives, including formulation, process, ingredient, and cost optimization opportunities
- Support execution of assigned quality improvement projects by applying scientific methods, data analysis, and technical problem-solving to product and process challenges
- Support End-to-End Quality Program activities, including documentation, cross-functional follow-up, and execution of assigned R&D actions
- Support the development, improvement, and maintenance of standardized R&D processes, procedures, templates, and ways of working to improve consistency, clarity, and execution across the organization.
- Plan, execute, document, and interpret laboratory, pilot plant, and manufacturing-scale experiments to develop technical recommendations for product, process, quality, and productivity opportunities
- Support select consumer-driven innovation and renovation projects, including beverage formulation, ingredient selection, sensory evaluation, shelf-life support, and scale-up from laboratory through commercial manufacturing
- Perform and verify R&D calculations, including formulation math, ingredient usage, percent solids, dilution, yield, cost, and related beverage development calculations
- Create clear, accurate technical documentation for assigned projects, including experiment summaries, formulation records, specifications, trial reports, technical recommendations, and project updates.
- Support plant trials and commercialization activities, including process validation, startup support, and troubleshooting during manufacturing implementation
- Leverage external and internal experts for key analytical, sensory and consumer research
- Perform economic evaluations on ingredients, ingredient suppliers, and product formulations to drive profitability
- Participate as an active member of cross-functional project teams, partnering with Marketing, Purchasing, Engineering, Operations, Quality, and other groups
- Develop and maintain complete product attribute specifications for ingredients and finished products
- Use innovative and critical thinking skills to help solve technical and organizational challenges
- Work through ambiguous technical problems with guidance to identify options, next steps, and tradeoffs
- Use strong teamwork, collaboration, communication, and project coordination skills to support cross-functional projects on time and on budget
QUALIFICATIONS:- S. in Food Science & Technology or related scientific field; advanced degree preferred
- 2+ years of experience in product development, beverage experience a plus
- Proficiency in Excel for data analysis, calculations, tracking, and documentation; PowerPoint experience for summarizing technical findings, recommendations, and project updates. Ability to learn new software as needed
- Ability to manage multiple project tasks and priorities, with ability to adapt quickly to changing priorities and unexpected requests
- Ability and interest to work in laboratory, pilot plant and manufacturing scale environments
- Ability to work with lab and analytical equipment (pH meter, Brix meter, centrifuge, analytical balance, etc.)
- Comfort developing, improving, and following standardized ways of working across R&D processes, documentation, systems, and data management
- Highly organized with strong attention to detail and strong math calculation skills, including formulation calculations, percent solids, dilution, yield, cost, and ingredient usage calculations
- Demonstrated ability to build effective working relationships with cross-functional business partners, including Marketing, Supply Chain, Operations, Quality, and Sales
- Ability to work effectively, escalate risks appropriately, and adapt in a fast-paced environment with ambiguity and change
- Project coordination skills, including timelines, milestones, documentation, and cross-functional collaboration
- Ability to translate business objectives into clear technical tasks and project deliverables
- Must be open to 15-25% domestic travel
