Food Scientist II/III

Everyone on our Research & Innovation (R&I) team shares a passion for innovation, new technologies, new formulations, new packaging solutions, and new ways of thinking. By joining our team, you will leverage your scientific expertise, creativity, and leadership to bring health through food, delight consumers, and drive business growth.

We are currently looking to hire a Food Scientist II/III based in White Plains, NY or Louisville, CO.

The Food Scientist II/III is responsible for leading the development and commercialization of high-quality, consumer-centric yogurt products with a primary focus on the high protein Greek yogurt portfolio. This role leads complex innovation, renovation, productivity, business continuity and platform development programs from concept through commercialization and post-launch activities. As the R&I lead within cross-functional teams, you will apply advanced expertise in formulation, ingredient functionality, processing, and manufacturing to deliver scalable solutions that support category strategy and business growth. Success in this role requires deep technical expertise, strategic thinking, strong influence skills, strong technical rigor and excellence in execution.

In This Role, You Will

Lead complex innovation, renovation, productivity, and platform development programs, ensuring successful delivery against consumer, quality and food safety, regulatory, operational, cost, and business objectives.
• Serve as the R&I technical leader within cross-functional teams, influencing project direction, translating business needs into technical solutions, and driving stakeholder alignment.
• Design and lead technical development strategies, bench work experiments, industrial trials, product evaluations, and consumer validation activities to generate insights, anticipate risks, and build robust commercialization plans.
• Apply advanced expertise in product formulation, ingredient functionality, processing, and manufacturing to solve complex technical challenges and deliver scalable solutions.
• Develop and maintain ingredients specifications, finish good specifications, and other technical documentation to ensure products are commercialization-ready and meet all quality and compliance requirements.
• Collaborate with suppliers, co-manufacturers, internal technical experts, and manufacturing sites to identify novel technologies, capabilities, and solutions that advance category objectives.
• Contribute to category and innovation strategy by scoping new ideas, driving technical recommendations, identifying emerging opportunities, and championing continuous improvement.
• Mentor junior scientists, lead complex technical discussions, and strengthen R&I capabilities through knowledge sharing and technical leadership.

The salary range for this position is $90,000-118,000 USD. The exact salary offered will depend on several factors, including the candidate's relevant experience, geographic location, internal equity, and market conditions. Danone USA 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. To give our employees flexibility, Danone is a hybrid work environment.

This role is considered a "hybrid" position that allows for flexible work, meaning it is a role where collaboration with key stakeholders in Danone Hubs occurs. While you may have the option to work from home on a schedule as agreed to with your supervisor, you are also expected to regularly report to your assigned office location at least 3 days per week.

Required Qualifications

• Degree in Dairy Science or Food Science or related technical field (Master's degree preferred) with 5-10 years of relevant experience.
• Advanced understanding of dairy and / or fermented product formulation, ingredient functionality, processing technologies, and manufacturing systems.
• Demonstrated success leading complex product development projects and programs from concept through commercialization with a strong attention to detail and excellence in execution.
• Strong technical troubleshooting, risk assessment, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Experience leading industrial scale-up, commercialization, and post-launch activities.
• Proven ability to influence decisions across functions and organizational levels.
• Creative, proactive and self-driven with a continuous improvement and growth mindset.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Flexibility to travel (30%) & willingness to support plant trials outside of business hours

Life at Danone

With 5,000 employees across two headquarters and 10+ U.S. manufacturing locations, Danone offers a vibrant culture, meaningful work and growth opportunities that make employees proud to be Danoners.
Rooted in our mission to bring health through food to as many people as possible, Danone is proud to be the world's largest B Corp. Learn more about Life at Danone

Our Brands

When you join Danone USA, you'll work with some of the best known food and beverage brands in the world, including Activia, Danimals, Oikos, Silk, Dannon, evian, International Delight, STK Cold Brew Coffee, and more. View our full lineup of brands.

Our Benefits

Our benefits support your physical, mental, financial and family wellbeing through health coverage, flexible time off, retirement savings, family care support and more. Learn more about our benefits.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Danone USA is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. It is our policy to give equal employment opportunities to all qualified persons without regard to legally protected characteristics, or any other consideration made unlawful by applicable federal, state/provincial and/or local law. For our EEO policy statement and your EEO rights under law click here.

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