The Hershey Company

Sr. Research Scientist

The Hershey Company • $95K — $115K *
Hershey, PA 17033In-Person
Food & Beverages
Less than 5 years of experience
Today
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Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 3+ years of experience in food, confectionery, chocolate, or product development
  • Proven track record in leading product innovation and commercialization initiatives
  • Hands-on experience with confection and chocolate formulation and recipe development
  • Familiarity with confectionery processing technologies like molding and enrobing
  • Knowledge of better-for-you ingredients, such as alternative sweeteners and functional ingredients
  • Strong problem-solving and project leadership capabilities
  • Willingness to travel approximately 20% for the role

Responsibilities

  • Lead product development activities for innovation projects
  • Execute technical workstreams to meet project objectives and deliver quality outputs
  • Apply scientific methods to solve technical challenges and support data-driven decisions
  • Drive innovation through formulation, recipe development, and ingredient evaluation
  • Lead prototyping and scale-up from benchtop to manufacturing
  • Conduct technical assessments and provide feasibility recommendations
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to advance project initiatives
  • Mentor team members and promote technical knowledge sharing

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, and vision coverage
  • Wellness programs for physical and mental health
  • Competitive pay and annual incentive opportunities
  • 401(k) with company match
  • Paid time off and company holidays
  • Flexible working arrangements
  • Career development programs and learning opportunities
Full Job Description
How will you fit in the big picture?

Reporting to the Sr. Manager, R&D, the Senior Research Scientist will provide technical leadership across multiple innovation and product development projects within Hershey's confection and chocolate portfolio. This role is responsible for leveraging formulation expertise, scientific rigor, and cross-functional collaboration to deliver new products, product improvements, and process innovations that support business growth.

The ideal candidate will combine strong confectionery product development knowledge with hands-on experience scaling products from benchtop through pilot plant and full manufacturing. This role offers the opportunity to influence product direction, partner with teams across the enterprise, and help bring innovative solutions to life at the Sweetest Place on Earth.

What will you do?

  • Lead formulation, ingredient, and product development activities across multiple medium-complexity innovation and commercialization projects.
  • Execute technical workstreams that support defined project and product objectives, delivering high-quality technical outputs while identifying and escalating risks as appropriate.
  • Apply established scientific methods, research, and analytical approaches to solve moderately complex technical challenges and support data-driven decision making.
  • Drive product innovation through confection and chocolate formulation, recipe development, ingredient evaluation, and product transformation understanding.
  • Lead assigned prototyping, scale-up, and commercialization activities from benchtop through pilot plant and manufacturing implementation.
  • Conduct technical assessments and provide recommendations regarding feasibility, product performance, and manufacturing readiness.
  • Contribute incremental innovations that improve development processes, experimentation, product quality, efficiency, or technical capabilities.
  • Partner closely with Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Regulatory, Procurement, Supply Chain, Marketing, and external partners to advance short- and medium-term pipeline initiatives.
  • Support technology validation, process optimization, quality improvement, and cost savings initiatives.
  • Translate technical findings into clear recommendations and communicate project updates, challenges, and opportunities to stakeholders and leadership.
  • Provide technical support during equipment commissioning, startup, troubleshooting, and commercialization activities.
  • Mentor and share technical knowledge with team members while continuing to develop technical breadth across R&D disciplines.


Minimum Education & Requirements

Experience:
  • 3+ years of relevant experience in food, confectionery, chocolate, ingredient, or product development environments.
  • Demonstrated experience leading innovation, product development, process optimization, quality improvement, or commercialization initiatives.
  • Experience with confection and chocolate formulation and recipe development.
  • Knowledge of confectionery processing technologies including molding, enrobing, and panning.
  • Preferred experience with better-for-you ingredients such as alternative sweeteners, proteins, fibers, and functional ingredients.
  • Strong problem-solving, troubleshooting, project leadership, and influencing skills.
  • Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and adapt to changing priorities.
  • Approximately 20% travel, primarily within the United States with occasional international travel.


Education:
  • Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Food Chemistry, Food Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Biology, or a related field with 4-6 years of relevant experience; OR
  • Master's degree in a related discipline with 2-4 years of relevant experience.


Benefits and Perks

At Hershey, we offer competitive pay and a comprehensive total rewards package designed to support your wellbeing, financial security, and life outside of work.
  • Health & Wellbeing: Medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus wellness programs that support your physical and mental health
  • Financial Security: Competitive pay, annual incentive opportunities, and a 401(k) with company match
  • Time Off & Flexibility: Paid time off, company holidays, and flexible ways of working where applicable
  • Growth & Development: Career development programs, learning opportunities, and internal mobility

Benefits may vary based on role, location, and eligibility.

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About The Hershey Company

The Hershey Company Careers

Join the sweetest team on earth at The Hershey Company, a global leader in chocolate and sugar confections. With a rich heritage of innovation and leadership, The Hershey Company offers unparalleled job opportunities in an environment that champions diversity, creativity, and growth. Work You’ll Do Embark on a fulfilling career journey with The Hershey Company, where you can contribute to a range of exciting projects that help shape the future of the confectionery industry. At Hershey, you will work alongside a diverse team of professionals who are passionate about delivering joy through their products and innovations. Transform your professional life by engaging in roles that leverage your unique skills and aspirations. Whether in marketing, research and development, production, or sales, each position at Hershey is designed to foster leadership and professional growth. Lead with Innovation At The Hershey Company, innovation is at the core of everything we do. From creating delightful new treats to enhancing our sustainable practices, our team is constantly pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the confectionery space. Join a company where your ideas and leadership can make a tangible impact on our products and processes, driving growth and excellence in the industry. Explore Career Opportunities The Hershey Company is committed to nurturing talent and providing its employees with the tools they need for success. Explore a variety of job opportunities and internships that can help you build a rewarding career. Our positions are designed to challenge your skills and help you grow as a professional. Be Part of Our Culture Experience a company culture that values teamwork, integrity, and respect. At Hershey, we believe in creating an inclusive environment where every employee can thrive. Our commitment to diversity and inclusion is evident in our everyday operations and the positive atmosphere our team members enjoy. Benefits and Growth Invest in your future with The Hershey Company’s comprehensive benefits package, designed to support your health, well-being, and financial security. Embrace opportunities for career advancement through professional development programs and continuous learning initiatives. Networking and Professional Development Enhance your career prospects through Hershey’s robust networking opportunities. Connect with industry leaders, participate in global conferences, and engage in diversity training programs that prepare you for leadership roles within the company. Join Our Team Search for open positions that match your skills and interests on The Hershey Company’s careers page. We are looking for passionate, innovative, and driven individuals to join our team and help us continue our legacy of success and leadership in the confectionery industry. Stay Connected Keep up to date with the latest career tips, company news, and industry insights—all from the people who work at The Hershey Company. Subscribe to our careers blog and personalize your job alerts to find out about the exciting and rewarding opportunities that await you at Hershey. Explore, innovate, and grow with The Hershey Company. Discover how your career can flourish in an environment dedicated to nurturing talent and celebrating success. Join us and be part of a team that’s making a difference in the sweetest way possible!
Learn more about The Hershey Company
Size
16,620 employees
Market Cap
$48.1 billion
Industry
Food & Beverages
Net Income
$1.2 billion
Founded
1894
5 Year Trend
+3.8%
Revenue
$8.1 billion
NASDAQ
HSY
* Ladders Estimates

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