Product Developer II or Product Developer III

Company: Sabra
Location: Colonial Heights
Posted on: May 27, 2023

Job Description:

Feel Good Careers @ Sabra Dipping Company
Bring your passion for mixing culinary arts, science, and innovation as an R&D Product Developer (PD) on our Culinary Science and Innovation Team. We are open to hiring at the PD II or PD III levels (requirements below). In this role you'll work on product innovation, developing and commercializing new products, researching and problem solving cross-functionally towards continuous improvement of our processes.
Founded in 1986 in Queens, New York, Sabra Dipping Company is a leader in the refrigerated dips and spreads category and producer of America's top-selling hummus. Sabra's award-winning products offer consumers fresh new ways of eating and connecting and include a variety of flavors of hummus and guacamole. Our people are driven by our purpose to unite and delight the world around planet positive food and are committed to supporting individuals 'being at their best' by bringing fresh ideas to the table and turning their passion for food into results that matter.
Dip into this role:

• This role is specifically innovation/beyond hummus focused.
• As a PD III - Independently design and conduct bench-top and pilot plant trials during the product development process to validate and support current products and create new ones. As a PD II - simply be comfortable conducting trials designed by others.
• Scope and ensure product scale up from culinary standard to lab prototype to pilot plant to commercialization, developing commercial specifications and translating benchtop and pilot plant formulas to production formulas.
• Understand and actioning technical disclosures in patent literature, actively participate in protection of intellectual assets within the scope of a project.
• Strong knowledge of other technical disciplines including: packaging, engineering, nutrition, and quality control and ability to apply basic principles from these disciplines to formulation work
• Seek out novel ingredients that could provide a competitive advantage with existing, new, and emerging vendors.
• Anticipate impact of formulation on innovation/product P&L and adjusts development to fit P&L needs. Ensures that budget and P&L metrics are delivered for projects.
• Uses market metrics to drive development. Understands and links business strategy with development activities
• Design and execute shelf life studies on complex new and existing products and able to adapt new methodologies to those studies
• Define, plan, design, execute and deliver on various cross-functional projects, which includes contributing to ideation, reviewing and identifying new projects, developing, implementing and executing technical plans, collecting and analyzing data, communicating results and project status, generating reports and making presentations
• Train, coach, mentor, and support interns and Technicians
• Influence projects based upon new technologies and trends and demonstrate a desire for continuous learning around best practices and new trends. Recipe for success:
  • BS degree (Food Science, Dairy Science Food Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Culinary Science) required. MS or PHD degree is a plus for a PD III.
  • PD III - 6+ years of food industry experience required, plant based food is preferred, as a PD II only 3-4 years experience needed
  • Background in product development and commercialization of food products is required. Experience in Ready to Eat refrigerated foods preferred.
  • Strong working knowledge of interaction of process and formulation. Able to anticipate issues to food quality based upon process.
  • Experience working in manufacturing environment.
  • Technical depth in food science, ingredient interactions, and impact of processing with strong history or application in food development. Culinary training preferred
  • Proven track record of anticipating and solving key formulation issues applying knowledge of food science principles.
  • Depth of knowledge of interaction of process and formulation
  • Advanced experience managing data using research tools and statistical analysis, and experimental design
  • Strong communication skills (oral and written) demonstrated through effective communication to multiple levels within an organization
  • Ability to anticipate and solve food safety issues during the food formulation process, demonstrated understanding of GMP's
  • Ability to utilize consumer and market data to identify market opportunities and utilize consumer and sensory testing to improve existing products or create new products
  • Some travel up to 20% may be required with this job. International travel may be required
    Sabra has applied an anti-COVID mindset in alignment with our business imperative of keeping employee safety and wellbeing first. All U.S.-based Sabra employees must provide proof of a fully completed COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment. On or before the first day of employment, new joiners must provide a copy of his/her COVID-19 vaccination record from the dispensing doctor, clinic or pharmacy. Sabra will provide reasonable accommodation(s) in accordance with federal, state, and local law.
    We celebrate an inclusive environment and provide equal opportunity for development and advancement. As an equal opportunity employer, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, status as a covered veteran or uniform service member, or any other protected characteristic under applicable federal, state and/or local law.
    Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
    The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

Keywords: Sabra, Richmond , Product Developer II or Product Developer III, IT / Software / Systems , Colonial Heights, Virginia