Sr. Food Scientist, Frozen Foods

As part of our Dinners and Sauces R&D team, the Senior Scientist will be serving as the technical lead on projects across various complexities and project types (Innovation, Renovation, Quality Improvement, Productivity, Process Optimization).  Core products include Rao’s & Michael Angelo’s Frozen Entrees, Rao’s Dried Pastas and a pipeline of new ideas readied to expand the brand into new categories, meal occasions and Gross Margin Expansion.  The Senior Scientist will leverage culinary techniques, formulation expertise to create gold standard prototypes on the bench, create Design of Experience, execute trials & commissioning products in full, on time, at cost and at a superior quality level to existing products or to competition.  The role involves partnering across the technical community to support existing process technologies and develop/commercialize new process technologies. 

The Senior Scientist will:

1. Advance the business through technical, culinary and formulation excellence ensuring all aspects meet or exceed the quality and product performance requirements within a managed timeline and cost objective
2. Partner within the Business Unit to mitigate input costs, anticipate inflationary changes and enhance margins through joint cost leadership
3. Influence and support internal teams, external stakeholders, and programs
4. Be tightly connected and a key contributor to the broader Sovos Brands Organization
5. Thrive in a fast-paced culture focused on change ready leadership and resiliency

Key Accountabilities 

This role will have responsibility for leading and supporting process development, process optimization, processes of the future, cost optimization, and commercialization projects across our Rao’s and Michael Angelo’s brands.  The focus will include technical breadth and depth across frozen entrees and thermally processed sauces.

• Lead technology development in select technical areas guided by near term innovation priorities and strategic technology roadmaps. Champion knowledge creation, implementation, and stewardship in these areas
• Given an objective: initiate test plans, develop experimental setups, test execution and provide data analysis to quantify key process parameters and fundamental mechanisms at bench, pilot and factory scale. Requires experience/knowledge of process/product integration
• Support the origination of prototypes and the development of a technical approach/ risk assessment related to new product and process development, from bench-top to pilot-plant and through to plant-scale
• Support existing and upcoming projects related to new product development, quality improvements, continuous improvements, capital expenditures and product / process interactions
• Manages multiple projects, able to prioritize and be flexible to rapidly changing business needs
• Builds and leverages effective relationships to get things done. Works as “one team” with product applications, engineering, and supply chain partners. Builds and maintains positive and cooperative communications, and collaboration with the team, partners, and key stakeholders
• Comply with USDA and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations, other regulatory requirements, Company policies, operating procedures, processes, and task assignments

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Culinary, Chemical Engineering or relevant fields.
• 5+ years experience in product / process development
• Passion for food, new product and process optimization, technical rigor and continuous learning, with a strong grasp of continuous improvement fundamentals
• Some knowledge of nutrition, ingredient interaction, and labeling guidelines
• Demonstrated project leadership and initiative with the ability to work independently as well as collaboratively. Ability to balance multiple concurrent priorities
• Strong bias for action and learning mindset. Willing to lean into risk, challenge assumptions, and identify new opportunities
• Ability to travel up to 15% of the time.
• Ability to sample Sovos Brands' products

Preferred Qualifications:

• Food Science or Culinary experience in Italian cuisine, Frozen Foods, meat and poultry, pasta production and process, thermally processed sauces is highly desired
• Strong technical communication skills, with a proven record of effectively sharing technical results and implications with less technical audiences
• Demonstrated business savvy and ability to maintain both a technical depth and business results mindset
• Track record for delivering outstanding results by solving technically complex problems. Experience using statistical designs, continue improvement methodologies, analysis and reporting is highly desired
• Better Process Control School, Root Cause Analysis, mastery of pilot plant and analytical equipment

About Sovos Brands, Inc.

Sovos Brands, Inc. is a consumer-packaged food company focused on acquiring and building disruptive growth brands that bring today’s consumers great tasting food that fits the way they live. The Company’s product offerings include a variety of pasta sauces, dry pasta, soups, frozen entrées, frozen pizza and yogurts, all of which are sold in North America under the brand names Rao’s, Michael Angelo’s and noosa. All Sovos Brands’ products are built with authenticity at their core, providing consumers with one-of-a-kind food experiences that are genuine, delicious, and unforgettable. The Company is headquartered in Louisville, Colorado. For more information on Sovos Brands and its products, please visit www.sovosbrands.com 

We offer attractive compensation packages based upon background and experience. Package includes base salary, incentive bonus, medical benefits, 401K, and PTO. We maintain a drug and alcohol-free workplace. All candidates offered a position are required to pass a pre-employment drug test. We participate in E-Verify.  Sovos Brands is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. Sovos Brands is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.