This position will support our Plant-Based Beverage team, focused on the Functional platform in Plant Based. This role will be responsible to lead innovation projects, while contributing to maintaining business needs, driving cost optimizations, and improving the current portfolio.  We’re looking for someone who can drive and manage the complete product development life cycle with a focus on functional benefit-led projects.

This position will span across ideation, rapid prototyping, engaging with consumers for concept development, hands on bench work, pilot plant test work, conducting industrial tests in plants, leading industrial product launches, analytical and organoleptic evaluation, and the management of R&I tasks to ensure stage gate progression. The candidate must be able to represent R&I interests to internal cross functional partners, external partners, as well as inspire the business and our R&I team to pursue consumer centric innovation opportunities.

This position will be located in Louisville, CO.

In this role, you will be responsible for:

• Supporting the Plant Based Beverage Business with broad to advanced understanding of R&I strategy, category/business strategy and the ability to leverage diverse methods for executing projects
• Manage medium to high technical complexity innovation, renovation and productivity projects across plant beverages, with primary focus on functional benefit-led products
• Deliver product innovation, renovation, and productivity programs, including complex programs (new platforms, high visibility programs) while anticipating challenges and building contingencies
• Independently plan and execute bench, pilot, and plant trials for new and improved products, analyze test results and effectively translate these into effective next steps that lead to project successes
• Contribute to scoping and design of new ideas or technical solutions that contribute to R&I and product category strategy
• Use technical and manufacturing insights to develop formulations and processes to deliver on consumer expectations, food safety, cost, and timing requirements
• Develop and commercialize product formulas, processing procedures and raw material specifications that support business objectives
• Collaborate with suppliers and provide technical briefs to pursue new technologies, capabilities, and novel ingredients
• Collaborate in the design of consumer tests, organize sample production and shipments, and ensure product quality for consumer tests
• Deliver fundamental training and information sharing to cross functional partners or junior team members; Optimize and/or champion new ways of working

The base compensation range for this position is $87,000-107,000 commensurate with experience. Danone North America additionally offers a performance-based bonus and has a strong benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, Prescription Drug Coverage, 401k Plan, Wellness Program, Life Insurance, Tuition Reimbursement, Flexible Time Off, and Paid Parental Bonding Leave, among other benefit plan options.

• Degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or closely related field preferred with 5-10 years of experience in product and/or process development in the food industry.

• Strong technical skills on product formulation, industrial processes, ingredient functionality, and product-process interactions; preferred knowledge on non-dairy protein and functional ingredient technologies in RTD/Plant Based Beverage applications.
• Knowledgeable in ingredient selection, formulation, processing equipment, and operating conditions for liquid-based oil-in-water emulsions.

• Flexibility to travel up to 30%
• Strong project management/organization and the ability to influence key stakeholders on recommended courses of action.
• Excellent communication skills (both written and oral) and the ability to interact with all company functions including R&D, Marketing, Purchasing and Operations.
• Comfortable operating in the fuzzy front-end area of innovation and passionate about creating, rapid prototyping, development, and commercialization of ideas under tight timelines.

At Danone North America, you’ll work with some of the best-known food and beverage brands in the world like Activia, Silk, Two Good, Oikos, evian, and Happy Family. You’ll be part of one of the largest Certified B Corps™ in the world, working together to make sure our brands create real benefits for people, communities, and the planet. We have 6,000+ employees across the U.S. and Canada. Come join our movement for a healthier world: One Planet. One Health BY YOU.

Danone North America doesn’t just welcome what makes you unique, we value it. We’re proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All hires to our team are based on qualifications, merit and business needs. We recruit, employ, train and promote regardless of race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, genetic characteristic or any other protected status. Faithful to our values of openness and humanism, all of our employees share in the commitment to engage one another with dignity and respect. http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf

https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/OFCCP_EEO_Supplement_Final_JRF_QA_508c.pdf

#LI-NORAM