R&D Scientist Jobs

Welcome to the unexpected delight of plant-based exploration! We're the creators of a revolutionary cheese alternative that tastes, shreds, melts and stretches like traditional cheese. Today, as plant-based food grows in popularity, that spirit of innovation continues to inspire our team.
We believe in pioneering plant-based breakthroughs that delight people and planet. Our portfolio of great tasting foods provide an opportunity for everyone to gather around the table, whether you have food allergies, are flexitarian, vegan, vegetarian, or just plant-based curious!
We're one big family of food-loving Daiyans, and we're always on the lookout for people who share our passion, our vision, and our ability to make each other smile.
Summary
The Scientist is a self-motivated and curious individual, focused on delivering products and technical solutions for our cheese category. The successful candidate will be an experienced R&D professional capable of merging strong scientific knowledge, hands-on technical skills, and project leadership to develop formulations and processes, conduct analytical and scale up testing, and commercialize new solutions This role will be responsible for leading and executing technical work from ideation to launch for key innovation, renovation, product and process improvement, and value engineering projects.
Duties And Responsibilities

• Works with sensory team to run tests to measure project progress and inform next steps .
• Participate in maintaining lab by calibrating equipment, organizing team supplies, and ensuring cleanliness.
• Leads production start-up and hand-off, leading troubleshooting efforts in-house and at co-packers
• Carries out other duties as required
• Researches new technologies and industry trends, looking for practical applications and benefits for the business. Participates in ideation and technical feasibility assessments for new projects
• Assist Lab Administrator with documentation required for new samples and raw materials
• Researches, sources, and communicates new product concepts, methods of preparation, ingredients, flavours, product use, processes, packaging, nutritional requirements, etc.
• Enters ingredients, formulates products, and creates NFPs and ingredient statements using Genesis
• Sources and evaluates ingredients, packaging, etc. from existing and new suppliers
• Leads large department, team, research, and continuous improvement initiatives to improve performance, costs, quality, and operational efficiency
• Designs, conducts, and analyzes scientific experiments to test ingredients, formulations, and processes, and develop prototypes and products. Includes sensory, analytical, micro, and shelf-life testing
• Mentors and supports team members in planning and executing technical work.
• Plans, coordinates, and runs plant trials
• Works with FSQA team and operations to develop commercialization and hand-off plan, including quality and food safety measures, documentation and specifications, training programs, and ongoing support.
• Fully owns leadership and execution of technical R&D work on multiple product development projects
• Strong understanding of the role of ingredients and process within model systems, prototypes and products; can confidently manipulate those variables to achieve project objectives
• Develops new and modifies existing formulations and processes in benchtop, pilot plant, and production to achieve technical targets for innovation, renovation, and value engineering projects (Class I & II & III)
• Identifies and builds relationships with new co manufacturing partners, research institutes, ingredient suppliers, technical services, universities, and equipment suppliers
• Maintains accurate records of all technical work, as well as all documentation required for SR&ED
• Leads the development of, or revisions to, SOP's and testing methods

Education And Experience

• Demonstrated technical expertise and proven accomplishments as part of an R&D team
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, Office 365 and Sharepoint
• Strong knowledge of R&D (food analysis, chemistry, safety, sensory), engineering or food manufacturing
• 5+ years of work experience in food processing or product development; an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered
• Strong knowledge of CDN and US food standards and regulations
• Experience in planning and conducting R&D projects, from benchtop to scale up
• Sc. in related science or engineering discipline (Food Science, Process Engineering, etc.); M.Sc. an asset

Related Skills, Knowledge And Abilities
Project & Technical skills

• Strong technical project leadership and management skills
• Discerns the level of rigour required for data capture to advance projects and safeguard information
• Ability to stay current by researching technology and trends, and continually growing technical skills
• Advanced knowledge of product development process, ingredient functionality and applications, food processing and manufacturing
• Strong knowledge with a variety of laboratory techniques. Suggests new methods of analysis, and can develop and validate new protocols
• Strong hands-on culinary and technical lab skills in areas of food analysis, food processing, food structuring, food chemistry and/or food microbiology ; ability to partner with 3rd parties to develop new methods / protocols
• Strong knowledge of Genesis: ingredient entry, formulating, ingredient statement and nutritional fact panel
• Actively participates in meetings and brainstorming, bringing out of the box ideas and a can-do attitude
• Ability to write detailed technical reports and gives clear presentations to communicate results
• Strong critical thinking, troubleshooting and problem-solving skills; critically assess the quality of data, research approach, and scientific underpinning from data obtained from internal and third-party institutes
• Advanced data analysis, visualization and interpretation skills, able to understand results and make recommendations

Professional skills

• Ability to multitask and deliver against team objectives in a complex and fast paced environment
• Communicates with non-technical team members to provide technical input and advice
• Strong English oral and written communication, represents team and company in a professional manner
• Constructively supports and challenges other R&D team members; provides productive feedback
• Ability to build strong working relationship with cross-functional team, existing and new suppliers, vendors, and research agencies
• Self-directed, accountable for delivering multiple technical project and objectives on time.
• Guides Associates and Scientists as a mentor; provides guidance & unblocks others on their team / areas
• Excellent organizational skills, maintaining accurate records of all technical and project work

Benefits

• 3 weeks' vacation
• Fun and creative environment
• Flex days
• Smart and passionate teams
• RRSP matching your retirement contributions
• Making people and the planet a healthier place
• Annual personal health and wellness fund
• Extended Health benefits fully paid by Daiya for your family
• Inspiring and innovative work
• Competitive compensation

At Daiya Foods, we are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable work environment, one in which employees can bring their whole selves to work everyday. We welcome and celebrate differences because we believe a multitude of perspectives fosters innovation and will help us achieve our vision.
Daiya Foods is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) and prohibits discrimination of any kind. We are committed to building a representative workforce and encourage applications reflecting diversity of sex, sexual orientation, gender identify or expression, racialization or ancestry, disability, religion, marital or family status, age and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person. We endeavor to recruit, develop, and retain the best talent from a diverse candidate pool and truly believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion among our team members is vital to our success as a company. We trust that in applying for a role with us you value this as well!