Research And Development Specialist

<p><strong>Our Client is seeking a Product Innovation Specialist (Food R&amp;D)</strong></p><p><br /></p><p><strong>Location:</strong> Vista, CA (Onsite 5 Days per Week)</p><p><strong>Employment Type:</strong> 6 plus month W2 Contract, extendible, conversion eligible</p><p><strong>Rate:</strong> $40-$45 an hour on W2</p><p><strong>Experience Level:</strong> 3-5 Years experience</p><p><br /></p><p><strong>About the Role</strong></p><p>We are seeking a Product Innovation Specialist to join our Innovation and Research &amp; Development team. This is a hands-on product development role supporting the creation, testing, and commercialization of new food products, with a focus on cheese, dairy, and related products. The ideal candidate will have experience in food product development, strong sensory evaluation skills, and the ability to work collaboratively across multiple departments.</p><p><br /></p><p><strong>Key Responsibilities</strong></p><ul><li>Develop, test, and refine new food product formulations from concept through commercialization.</li><li>Execute bench-top and pilot-scale product development trials.</li><li>Produce samples for customer presentations, sales meetings, workshops, and internal evaluations.</li><li>Conduct sensory, flavor, and quality evaluations, providing detailed feedback on product performance.</li><li>Troubleshoot formulation and processing challenges during product development.</li><li>Maintain accurate formulation records, test results, and development documentation.</li><li>Support pilot plant activities, shelf-life studies, and product validation testing.</li><li>Monitor consumer, ingredient, flavor, and industry trends to support innovation initiatives.</li><li>Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Operations, Quality Assurance, Procurement, Packaging, and Manufacturing.</li><li>Work with production facilities to identify ingredient needs and support ongoing product improvements.</li><li>Assist with commercialization activities, including formula scale-up and process optimization.</li><li>Utilize Microsoft Excel to develop, manage, and maintain product formulations and technical data.</li></ul><p><br /></p><p><strong>Required Qualifications</strong></p><ul><li>Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Dairy Science, Food Technology, or a related field, or equivalent industry experience.</li><li>3-5 years of experience in Food R&amp;D, Product Development, Food Innovation, or a related technical food manufacturing environment.</li><li>Experience developing and testing food formulations.</li><li>Strong sensory evaluation skills with the ability to assess flavor, texture, aroma, and overall product quality.</li><li>Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including maintaining and managing formulation data.</li><li>Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.</li><li>Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.</li><li>Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.</li></ul><p><br /></p><p><strong>Preferred Qualifications</strong></p><ul><li>Experience with dairy, cheese, dips, spreads, cultured dairy products, or related categories.</li><li>Knowledge of dairy science, cheese manufacturing processes, and flavor systems.</li><li>Experience supporting pilot plant trials and commercialization activities.</li><li>Understanding of food ingredient functionality and formulation principles.</li></ul><p><br /></p><p><strong>Desired Skills</strong></p><ul><li>Product formulation and development</li><li>Sensory and flavor evaluation</li><li>Food manufacturing processes</li><li>Dairy and cheese product development</li><li>Technical documentation</li><li>Project coordination</li><li>Cross-functional communication</li><li>Data analysis and formulation management using Excel</li></ul><p><br /></p><p><strong>Work Environment</strong></p><ul><li>Onsite position based in Vista, California.</li><li>Five days per week in office/laboratory setting.</li><li>Combination of bench-top development, pilot plant work, sample preparation, and office-based documentation activities.</li></ul><p><br /></p><p><strong>Preferred Industry Background:</strong> Dairy, cheese, dips, spreads, cultured dairy products, or related food manufacturing environments.</p><p><br /></p><p>Medical, dental, and vision insurance are available to qualified candidates who meet eligibility requirements.</p><p><br /></p>