Job Purpose and Impact

The R&D Specialist is responsible for research, development, and application for different products in Cargill. This includes developing application solutions and optimizations as well as providing business and customer partnership. This role acts as a lead collaborator in application technologies for the business as well as for key and strategic customers.

Key Accountabilities

• Performs research and development and application work in lab or pilot plants to understand the properties of products and systems as it relates to the subject of study and develops protocols for formulation.
• Establishes product specifications, and coordinates with engineering, plant operations, marketing and sales colleagues to ensure adequate resources are engaged to test and deliver technical findings.
• Conducts complex research that translates into marketable products, processes, systems and further develops existing technology.
• Supports commercial and technical teams to build strong customer relationships and gain market insights, seeking for new opportunities and stay current with scientific literature and the general food industry to enable business insights.
• Develops applications, sensory methods, or new analytical techniques, and maintains calibration in collaboration with Food Safety and Quality to ensure consistent processes and customer experiences.
• Conducts analysis and provides interpretation of trial results to internal stakeholders that are completed by self, team members and with minimal direction determines next steps.
• Analyzes, interprets and documents project results for more complex projects and presents results to cross-functional audiences for use in future product development or modification.
• Independently solve moderately complex issues with minimal supervision, while escalating more complex issues to appropriate staff.
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent experience
• Good written and verbal communication skills in English.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in food science, food technology, chemistry, chemical engineering or equivalent experience. Experience in poultry industry is preferred
• Excellent verbal, communication, prioritization, report writing and presentation skills. Including the ability to communicate technical and sensory details to wide array of people and project teams.
• Project management skills including planning (time and resources).
• Food manufacturing or application laboratory experience
• Experience in protocol development
• Experience with cross-functional teams
• Demonstrated project leadership
• Relevant work experience in product or process technology.