Job Description

OVERVIEW

The Dairy Innovation Team is at the center of the quickly growing, ever-changing, and highly competitive $8B yogurt category! This group of hustlers, team players, and find-a-wayers within the Dairy Business Unit are laser focused on both identifying new tranches of growth and commercializing job-based solutions that consumers want to hire. Our team identifies white spaces, builds consumer- and customer-first strategies, and commercializes new items to deliver remarkability. Please come join us and help shape the future of the yogurt category!

This Technologist will be working with the Taste and Kid focused Pillar Team for Innovation –a key growth target for innovation working to find solutions in the refrigerated grocery including launches like the recent Haagen-Dazs Culture Cream yogurt that is making its debut this month.

Capabilities you will build in this role is to become and expert in the Innovation Academy Tools for the innovation process, product development collaboration, experience working with vendors, working with ESC locations, iOPs Pilot plant experimentation teams, working with internal manufacturing teams, working with NTS and Technology experts, FSQ experts AND the business chasing new product innovation.

This role will require strong technical skills, critical problem-solving skill, and the ability to collaborate with a broad dynamic team. You will build partnerships with a passionate, highly engaged cross-functional teams, and travel to vendor and manufacturing locations as needed occasionally.

The right innovation candidate will have a creative possibility thinking mindset, have a desire to be engaged in consumer interactions and Consumer First Design activities (don’t worry—we will train you), and have flexibility with learning as we seek to solve real consumer problem pain points with amazing market solutions.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Lead with Safety, to foster and maintain a culture that values and ensures Employee & Consumer Safety
Design, coordinate and execute experiments from bench top to full scale manufacturing, including consumer testing; analyze experimental data and extract learning (i.e. shelf life analysis)
Build and leverage internal and external network (i.e. manufacturing facilities, suppliers) to support and execute work (lead and own portions of work or projects)
Participate in early CFD and feasibility activities across innovation.
Lead team specific projects to drive process improvements/efficiencies.
Development, procurement, management, and shipment of ingredients, including contacting suppliers and sourcing.
Lead/support new/renovated product start up in manufacturing environments.
Manage sample analysis for shelf life, sensory, retention, and analytical testing.
Be comfortable in the fluid continuous learning cycles of innovation.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

2-4 years of related experience AND/OR a 2-year degree.
Experience working in teams to deliver results and a passion for Innovation.
Basic computer/technology skills (Office Suite, other computer programs).
Self-starter (ability to work autonomously); holds a high regard for quality of work.
Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving Skills.
Comfortable in a manufacturing (pilot plant or plant) environment.
Strong communication skills.
Basic understanding of food safety and human safety.
Desire to learn new concepts quickly and apply in productive ways.
Maturity and emotional resiliency to navigate through fast-paced situations.
Ability to assess and solve technical/mechanical problems.
Ability to effectively manage multiple competing priorities.
Continuous improvement/innovation mindset
Ability to work across all levels and build trusted partnerships to advance work.