COMPANY OVERVIEW:

Balchem Corporation develops, manufactures and markets specialty ingredients that improve and enhance the health and well-being of life on the planet, providing state-of-the-art solutions and the finest quality products for a range of industries worldwide. Our corporate headquarters is located in New Hampton, New York, (Hudson Valley area) and we have a broad network of sales offices, manufacturing sites, and R&D centers, primarily located in the US and Europe. Founded in 1967, Balchem is a publicly traded company (NASDAQ – “BCPC”) with annual revenues over $700 million and a market cap exceeding $4.0 billion. The company consists of three business segments: Human Nutrition & Health; Animal Nutrition & Health; and Specialty Products. Balchem employs over 1,400 people worldwide who are engaged in diverse activities, committed to developing the company into global market leadership positions. To learn more about our dynamic, stable and growing company, visit www.balchem.com

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Product Development Scientist/Engineer is a member of the R&D group that is based on Faribault, MN focusing on high-protein extruded food products such as crisps and texturized vegetable protein. This role is both a strategic and tactical in nature and is for someone who enjoys the challenge of bringing new products to market. Working closely with the members of R&D, operations and quality, the Product Development Scientist/Engineer will be leading technical projects related to high-protein extruded ingredients from concept to commercialization to meet business objectives.

The role will be focused on the following activities, including but not limited to, project management for commercialization of new products, new product and process development on pilot as well as manufacturing scale, technical troubleshooting, specification development, product characterization including application testing.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Lead and champion a culture of safety. Work safely and professionally complying with all company policies and procedures.
• Demonstrates knowledge and expertise in product/process development and innovation.
• Ensures diligence in development, scale up and commercialization of products and technologies.
• Drives change in a complex, fast-paced business environment.
• Conceptual, creative and analytic problem solving – the ability to break down complex issues and simplify by focusing on what matters.
• Leverage technical and functional expertise to solve broader business issues.
• Understand the commercialization process with proven experience of its application.
• Ability to learn new categories quickly and provide appropriate guidance.
• Achieves end-to-end success by taking ideas from their conceptual stage to marketplace execution.
• A professional who believes that the consumer is the starting point for all R&D activities.
• Have a proven track record of delivering extraordinary results.
• Meet with customers and represent Balchem’s technology as required.
• Ensures diligence in development, scale up and commercialization of products and technologies.
• Manage and lead all extrusion product development efforts from pilot to manufacturing including formulation, process development, processing capability, and specification development
• Work closely with Operations, QA and functional business partners to troubleshoot issues with existing products and processes
• Provide subject matter expertise: troubleshoot production problems relating to raw materials, equipment, and/ or processing conditions. Document and present findings and suggest improvements
• Create test designs including formulation and process variables and ability to correlate to impact on finished product for pilot and manufacturing trials. Oversee/lead hands-on pilot scale trials
• Develop deep expertise in critical parameters involved in the manufacturing of extruded ingredients as well as processes; advise operations on process changes to manufacture finished products within target specification for new products during trials
• Develop better practices, and standard operating instructions for high first pass quality within provided specification
• Oversee R&D technical functions such as sensory, shelf life testing, legal label claims, product specifications, and nutritionals
• Assists in the preparation of presentations and reports to communicate results internally and externally (customers)
• Understands regulatory requirements and work to ensure compliance
• Follows and enforces all safety policies and procedures including use of safety equipment (PPE) and equipment safeguards. Works to advance and promote the safety culture of the site
• Performs other duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS:

• BS degree in Food Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or related field required
• 1-3 years of experience in process or product development and commercialization, focus on extrusion technology preferred
• 1-2 years of bench-top laboratory, formulation, and pilot plant experience preferred
• Excellent communication, influencing, and problem-solving skills
• Highly self-motivated individual comfortable working individually and able to manage multiple tasks and projects efficiently within the context of a fast-paced, busy environment
• Ability to apply prior learning or scientific principles to new situations
• Ability to exhibit a collaborative mindset and apply innovative solutions are a must
• Knowledge of Food Safety, HACCP preferred

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Balchem is committed to a workplace culture that values and promotes diversity, inclusion, equal employment opportunities, and a work environment free of harassment and hostility.