Food Safety & Quality Analytical Chemist

Food Safety & Quality Analytical Chemist

Overview

Position Overview:

The Food Safety and Quality Analytical Chemist will play a key role in supporting the Innovation Center and broader organization by providing technical expertise in analytical science that drives product quality, shelf-life optimization, new product development, and continuous improvement.

The role will serve as a technical resource to Research & Development, Quality, Operations, and manufacturing laboratories, providing expertise in analytical methodology, instrumentation, testing standards, and laboratory practices. The position will support the development, validation, standardization, and implementation of analytical methods under the direction of the Lab Manager and contribute to the evaluation and adoption of new technologies and equipment.

The Food Safety and Quality Analytical Chemist will also provide technical support for analytical proficiency and standardization programs across manufacturing facilities, to aid in identifying opportunities to improve laboratory capability, consistency, efficiency, and data quality.

Responsibilities – What You'll Do

Essential Function/Primary Responsibilities:

Analytical Testing & Program Management

• Support development and maintenance of analytical testing strategies for complex food safety, quality, R&D, product development, commercialization, and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Coordinate, plan, and conduct chemical testing as a part of challenge studies and food safety and quality investigations in collaboration with relevant cross-functional teams.

• Support Food Safety, Quality, and R&D through development and maintenance of the buffering capacity program, ensuring accurate and timely testing for formulation optimization.

• Recommend appropriate analytical approaches, methodologies, testing requirements, and instrumentation in collaboration with the Lab Manager and relevant stakeholders.

• Coordinate workload and conduct testing to support R&D and QA projects as necessary based on business need

• Acid and Salt titration, pH, water activity, viscosity, texture, color, moisture, fat, microscopy, and other tests

• Apply knowledge of food chemistry and analytical science to investigate complex product, process, and laboratory issues and support root cause analysis.

• Interpret analytical results, identify trends and deviations, and communicate technical findings and recommendations to manager and cross-functional stakeholders.

• Serve as a technical resource to product developers and cross-functional teams during complex research projects, development sprints, commercialization activities, and post-commercialization issues or improvements.

Standardization & Continuous Improvement

• Support the development and implementation of standardized analytics test methods, laboratory procedures, and best practices across company laboratories.
• Identify and address continuous improvement opportunities in analytical test methodologies and lab operations.
• Develop and maintain standardized test methods, including Analytical Methods and SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures), in collaboration with the Lab Manager and relevant stakeholders to promote consistency across company laboratories.
• Evaluate and provide input on new analytical technologies, equipment, instrumentation, or automation to improve accuracy, efficiency, consistency, and data management.
• Provide technical input into laboratory equipment specifications, setup, validation, calibration, and implementation activities.
• Execute gold-standard reviews across manufacturing facilities to evaluate laboratory processes, identify deviations, and support improvement recommendations.

Proficiency Testing & Training

• Develop, improve, and maintain execution of the QA Analyst qualification program across manufacturing facilities to assess and elevate lab performance.
• Assist with the QA Analyst qualification or analytical proficiency program, including describing testing requirements, evaluating results, identifying capability gaps, and recommending corrective or preventive actions to the Lab Manager.
• Act with proactive collaboration as a technical resource for QA laboratory practices company wide.
• Collaborate with Quality and Operations teams to support facility lab troubleshooting and training needs.
• Provide technical guidance and training within established procedures and in alignment with the direction of the Lab Manager.

Method Development & Innovation Support

• Support the development, validation, implementation, and continuous improvement of new analytical methods to support new product launches and formulation changes.
• Support complex research projects by evaluating and applying appropriate analytical approaches, interpreting results, and identifying opportunities for further investigation.
• Provide analytical expertise during cross-functional innovation and sprint initiatives, including food chemistry, analytical testing, physical characterization, and method development.
• Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders to align on equipment specifications, support on validation and calibration protocols.
• Support efforts to ensure new methods meet regulatory, quality, customer, and safety standards.
• Research and evaluate emerging analytical technologies and testing approaches and provide recommendations to the Lab Manager and relevant stakeholders.

Data Management & Reporting

• Maintain accurate records of test results and ensure compliance with internal data integrity protocols.
• Support data interpretation and provide actionable insights to cross-functional teams.
• Analyze and interpret analytical data to identify trends, relationships, deviations, and opportunities for improvement.
• Support root cause analyses through evaluation of analytical data, testing methodologies, product attributes, and process conditions.
• Use analytical data systems or tools to track trends and support root cause analysis.
• Develop technical reports, analytical summaries, methods, SOPs, protocols, and other documentation necessary to communicate technical findings and support business decisions.

Qualifications – What You'll Bring

Qualification Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Biochemistry, or related field with minimum 5 years of analytical lab or equivalent experience or Master’s degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Biochemistry, or related field with minimum 3 years relevant experience.
• Strong understanding of food chemistry.
• Demonstrated experience supporting the development, validation, implementation, or improvement of analytical methods.
• Demonstrated ability to investigate technical or laboratory problems and recommend solutions.
• Experience in analytical method validation.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced laboratory environment.
• Experience with analytical instruments used to measure, acid, salt, viscosity, moisture, color, texture, etc.
• Ability to interpret complex analytical data and communicate technical findings and recommendations.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, LIMS, or other lab data systems.
• Strong project management, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Strong skills in technical writing, data analysis, and laboratory investigations.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
• Ability to lead technical projects and implement programs involving multiple cross-functional stakeholders.
• Willingness to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, or holidays as needed.
• Some infrequent travel in support of plants expected