Your Opportunity as the Scientist, Product Development
Apply conceptual and practical expertise, scientific rigor, and business perspective to lead complex product and process development for Uncrustables® breads and sandwich products. Frame complex challenges, define and lead detailed learning plans, and recommend solutions that balance technical, operational, financial, and market considerations. Advance formulation knowledge, experimental strategy, technical readiness, and new capabilities while serving as a technical leader, coach, and cross-functional partner. Through innovation, optimization, and strategic technical advancement, this role delivers meaningful business value and strengthens the broader technical community.
Location: Orrville, OH
Work Arrangements: Hybrid, 60% in office expectation, increasing to 100% as needed for lab or plant support. 30% annual travel, primarily during project scale-up phases.
In this role you will:
- Lead formulation development for new and existing Uncrustables breads and sandwich products, integrating ingredient, formula, process, business, and market considerations.
- Independently frame complex business problems, define and lead detailed learning plans, and recommend clear solutions and paths forward.
- Serve as a project team member or technical lead on higher-complexity innovation, renovation, and transformation initiatives with significant technical unknowns.
- Define experimental and research strategies; lead lab, pilot plant, scale-up, and manufacturing work; and guide or delegate execution as appropriate.
- Interpret complex data holistically, apply experience across disciplines, and translate findings into recommendations that address technical, operational, and financial feasibility.
- Lead exploration of strategic technical advancements, including new platforms, methodologies, capabilities, and defensive intellectual property opportunities.
- Demonstrate technical readiness for complex initiatives, collaborate across functions and external networks, and influence shared project and business objectives.
- Guide technical documentation and data governance, support scientific methodologies, and coach others to strengthen formulation and product development capability.
What we are looking for:
Minimum Requirements:
- Bachelor of Science in Food Science or other scientific discipline
- 5+ years of technical experience in R&D or a related technical discipline, preference in Human Food, Bakery, and/or Snacks
- Strong foundation in food formulation, product development, process engineering, or related technical work
- Strong working knowledge of stage gate processes, product specifications, technical documentation, and data governance across varied levels of complexity
- Ability to define experimental approaches, apply statistical analysis, and translate complex data into holistic, actionable recommendations
- Food safety foundation; PCQI training a plus
- Strong communicator who can connect technical findings to broader business considerations and influence cross-functional and R&D leadership audiences
- Independent problem solver who can lead complex work across disciplines and evaluate technical, operational, and financial trade-offs
- Builds credibility across functions, coaches others in the discipline, and contributes to a strong technical community
- Uses data visualization and storytelling to influence decisions and clarify complex recommendations
- Demonstrates continuous learning and flexibility to support business needs, including hybrid work expectations
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The Right Place for You
We are bold, kind, strive to do the right thing, we play to win, and we believe in a strong community that thrives together. Our culture is rooted in our Basic Beliefs, and we believe in supporting every employee by meeting their physical, emotional, and financial needs.
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We're an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, age, national origin, disability status or protected veteran status.
Skills Required
- Bachelor of Science in Food Science or another scientific discipline
- 5+ years of technical experience in R&D or a related technical discipline
- Experience in human food, bakery, and/or snacks
- Strong foundation in food formulation, product development, process engineering, or related technical work
- Working knowledge of stage-gate processes, product specifications, technical documentation, and data governance
- Ability to define experimental approaches, apply statistical analysis, and translate complex data into actionable recommendations
- Food safety foundation
- PCQI training
- Strong communication and ability to influence cross-functional and R&D leadership audiences
- Ability to independently solve problems and lead complex cross-disciplinary work
- Ability to evaluate technical, operational, and financial trade-offs
- Ability to coach others and contribute to a strong technical community
- Ability to use data visualization and storytelling to influence decisions
- Flexibility to support hybrid work expectations and business needs
The J.M. Smucker Co. Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about The J.M. Smucker Co. and has not been reviewed or approved by The J.M. Smucker Co..
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Retirement Support — Retirement programs are described as strong, with a company 401(k) match, immediate vesting in some materials, and access to an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. These elements contribute to a favorable view of total compensation value.
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Parental & Family Support — Paid parental leave for all parents and on-site childcare at key locations signal a family-forward approach. Additional supports such as adoption assistance and pet-related leave reinforce this emphasis.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Paid time off, seasonal compressed schedules, and flexibility options are highlighted across materials. The ability to start with substantial PTO and buy additional time enhances perceived time-off breadth.
The J.M. Smucker Co. Insights
What We Do
Each generation of consumers leaves their mark on culture by establishing new expectations for food and the companies that make it. At The J.M. Smucker Co., it is our privilege to be at the heart of this dynamic with a portfolio that appeals to each generation of people and pets with products found in 90 percent of U.S. homes and countless restaurants. This includes a mix of iconic brands consumers have always loved such as Folgers®, Jif® and Milk-Bone® and new favorites like Café Bustelo®, Smucker’s® Uncrustables® and Rachael Ray® Nutrish®. By continuing to immerse ourselves in consumer and pet parent preferences for food, how it’s purchased and how the companies that make it should operate, we will maintain the important role we play in their lives. This will allow us to continue growing our business and the positive impact we have on all of those who count on us.
