Senior Food Technologist

Senior Food Technologist - Fresh Poultry Optimization 

Purpose and Scope/General Summary: As a Senior Food Technologist - Fresh Poultry Optimization, you will play a pivotal role in advancing our fresh value added poultry processing capabilities. This position is at the intersection of operations, technology, and innovation, focusing on enhancing product quality, optimizing processing techniques, validating new technologies, and improving yield. You will work closely with the Operations, R&D, Engineering, Operational Excellence, and Quality Assurance teams to implement best practices and cutting-edge solutions that drive efficiency and excellence in our poultry products. 

Responsibilities: 

• Analyze current poultry processing methods to identify inefficiencies and areas for enhancement.
• Implement process improvements to increase productivity, reduce costs, and enhance product quality.
• Lead initiatives to improve our fresh portioning program, focusing on accuracy, efficiency, and consistency.
• Develop and implement best practices and innovative solutions to meet and exceed industry standard and customer expectations.
• Evaluate, and validate new processing equipment to ensure compatibility with existing systems and to enhance processing capabilities.
• Coordinate with equipment vendors and internal teams for seamless integration and optimization of new technology.
• Collaborate with the R&D team to assess and validate new functional ingredients and technologies that can improve product quality and/or yield, ensuring all new ingredients meet regulatory and company standards.
• Ability to travel up to 50% of the time.
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications:  

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Poultry Science, Engineering, or related field (Master’s preferred).
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in poultry processing or a related industry, operations or continuous improvement background preferred.
• Strong understanding of poultry processing technologies, equipment, and best practices.
• Experience with process improvement methodologies (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma).
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements related to poultry processing.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across multiple departments using our company values extensively.
• Willingness to work in a production environment.
• Can perform the functions of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation
• As a salaried position with the company, you may be required to travel at some point to other facilities, to attend Company events, or as a representative of the Company in other situations. Unless otherwise specified in this posting, the amount of travel may vary and the most qualified candidate must be willing and able to travel as business needs dictate.

The applicant who fills this position will be eligible for the following compensation and benefits: 

• Benefits: Vision, Medical, and Dental coverage begin after 60 days of employment;
• Paid Time Off: sick leave, vacation, and 6 company observed holidays;
• 401(k): company match begins after the first year of service and follows the company vesting schedule;
• Base salary range of $75,000 - $95,000; and
• Incentive Pay: This position is eligible to participate in the Company’s annual bonus plan, the amount of bonus varies and is subject to the standard terms and conditions of the incentive program;

For individuals assigned and/or hired to work in states where it is required by law to include a reasonable estimate of the compensation for any given position, compensation ranges are specific to those states and takes into account various factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to a candidate’s relevant experience, qualifications, skills, competencies, and proficiencies for the role. 

This position does not have an application deadline. We will continue to recruit until the position has been filled.  

The Company is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our team members and visitors. To assist in achieving that goal, we conduct a drug, alcohol, and background checks for all new team members post-offer and prior to the start of employment. The Immigration Reform and Control Act requires that verification of employment eligibility be documented for all new employees by the end of the third day of work. 

About us:  

Pilgrim’s is the second largest chicken producer in the world, with operations in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Mexico and the U.K. Pilgrim’s processes, prepares, packages and delivers fresh, further-processed and value-added poultry products for sale to customers in more than 100 countries, employs more than 50,000 people and contracts with more than 5,200 family farmers. Pilgrim’s is headquartered in beautiful Greeley, Colorado, at the JBS USA corporate office where our 1,200 employees enjoy more than 300 days of sunshine a year.  

Our mission: To be the best in all that we do, completely focused on our business, ensuring the best products and services to our customers, a relationship of trust with our suppliers, profitability for our shareholders and the opportunity of a better future for all of our team members.  

Our core values are: Availability, Determination, Discipline, Humility, Ownership, Simplicity, Sincerity  

EOE/Vets/Disability