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SalaryWe are looking for an Associate Food Scientist to join our Sweet Treats and ready-to-eat Popcorn R&D team in Chicago, Illinois! Located in downtown Chicago, Conagra's R&D team sits at our Center for Food Design (CFD). The CFD is a new R&D space with baking and snacks labs, a top-of-the-line culinary kitchen, pilot plant capabilities, and a vibrant open-office culture.
As an Associate Food Scientist, reporting to the Manager of Sweet Treats and RTE Popcorn Food Design Team, this is a great opportunity to begin your career in Food Science! You will draw upon your education and experience in food development/design to create exciting new treats. You'll have the opportunity to work on our sweet treats and popcorn portfolio - including Duncan Hines baking mixes, Swiss Miss, Snack Pack, and Angie's Boom Chicka Pop! This role will focus on food design and new product innovation as well as important business continuity projects. Initial projects will be on baking mixes.
What You'll Do:
Develop new products beginning at the concept phase through commercialization
Design and conduct plant trials and product start-ups
Share you work with senior leadership through product cuttings
Collaborate with packaging, processing, labeling, and other R&D partners to deliver on the overall proposition
Work cross-functionally with brand, finance, procurement, legal, and others, to commercialize new products as a team
Create product development schedules that are required to meet project timelines
Plan, prioritize, and complete tasks effectively and efficiently
Maintain accurate and complete records
Work with pilot plant equipment
Learn and utilize online specification system, recipe/formula tool
Design and execute experiments and prepare results for review
Maintain a clean, organized, and safe work area, including the cleaning of equipment, utensils and work surfaces
What You'll Bring:
BS in Food Science or related field required
1+ year of relevant work or internship experience preferred
Experience with ingredient functionality (understanding of baking ingredients and dry mixes preferred)
Knowledge in food product design, formulation, process design, product scale-up, plant testing and commercialization
Pro-active self-starter, excited to own project tasks
Ability to handle multiple projects and tasks simultaneously
Problem solving skills
Role Exposure:
May travel up to 30% of time. Must be able to travel independently and as a responsible CAG representative
Work in and around cramped/confined spaces
Climbing to various heights via stairs or ladders
Exposure to manufacturing environments for periodic extended workdays to include: loud noise, excessive heat, cold, wet, and slippery conditions.
Use of tools, equipment, and machinery
Driving a company or rental vehicle for up to 6 hours as needed
Exposure to food tasting and smells including all food allergens
We require applicants for this role to be legally authorized to work in the United States without requiring employer sponsorship either now or in the future.
This position is usually in the office Monday - Thursday and most Fridays are remote.
Our benefits include medical, dental, vision, 15 vacation days, 6 additional days off and 10 paid holidays. Check out our 401k plan too! Conagra will match 100% up to the first 6% of pay you save. The company will also provide a 3% non-elective contribution to your account regardless of your participation (that's 9%)!
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Our Benefits:
We care about your total well-being and will support you with the following, subject to your location and role:
- Health: Medical, dental and vision insurance, company-paid life, accident and disability insurance
- Wealth: great pay, incentive opportunity, matching 401(k) and stock purchase plan
- Growth: online courses, virtual and classroom development experiences
- Balance: paid-time off, parental leave, flexible work-schedules (subject to your location and role)
Our Company:
Conagra Brands is one of North America's leading branded food companies. We have a rich heritage of making great food, and a team that’s passionate about innovation and growth. Conagra offers choices for every occasion through iconic brands, such as Birds Eye®, Marie Callender's®, Banquet®, Healthy Choice®, Slim Jim®, Reddi-wip®, and Vlasic®, and emerging brands, including Angie's® BOOMCHICKAPOP®, Duke's®, Earth Balance®, Gardein®, and Frontera®.
We pride ourselves on having the most impactful, energized and inclusive culture in the food industry. For more information, visit www.conagrabrands.com.
Conagra Brands is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, pregnancy, leave status, disability, veteran status, genetic information and/or any other characteristic or status protected by national, federal, state or local law.
