The Process Cheese & Sauces R&D Scientist will provide technical expertise and leadership to support product development, renovation, and formula/process optimization within the Process Cheese & Sauces portfolio. This role independently leads moderately complex technical work, applies strong food science and experimental design principles, and partners cross‑functionally to deliver robust, scalable solutions from benchtop and pilot plant through commercialization. The candidate is expected to operate with a high degree of autonomy, technical rigor, and accountability for project outcomes in dynamic manufacturing and development environments.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead product development, renovation, and process optimization initiatives within Process Cheese & Sauces, delivering solutions in technically complex and ambiguous environments
- Design and execute experimental plans using sound scientific methodology and appropriate statistical tools
- Apply food science fundamentals, including composition, ingredient functionality, and process interactions, to improve product quality and performance
- Conduct and support benchtop, pilot plant, and manufacturing trials; analyze results and translate data into clear technical recommendations.
- Partner closely with Processing R&D, Packaging R&D, Quality, Engineering, Operations, Marketing and Supply Chain functions to advance projects and resolve technical challenges.
- Communicate technical findings, risks, and recommendations clearly to R&D peers and cross‑functional stakeholders
- Support scale‑up and commercialization activities by aligning formulation intent with process and operational requirements
- Maintain high standards of technical documentation including experimental plans, trial reports, data analyses, and specifications
- Contribute to continuous improvement of test methods, analytical approaches, and technical understanding within Process Cheese & Sauce systems
- Provide technical guidance and informal mentoring to peers
- Demonstrate strong collaboration, reliability, and ownership of technical deliverables.
Required and Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in food science, Dairy Science, Chemistry, Microbiology, Engineering, or a related technical discipline - required
- 2 or more years of experience in food R&D, product development, process development, or technical research - required
- Solid to advanced understanding of: Food science principles and ingredient functionality; Product, process, and packaging interactions; and Experimental design and food testing methodologies -required
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate technical data into actionable recommendations - required
- Travel up to 25% (local) - required
- Natural or Process Cheese technical experience - preferred
Salary range: $81,200 - $121,800 (in most cases, candidates offered employment can expect to be hired at a pay rate near the middle of our salary ranges)
About Land O'Lakes, Inc.
Join us and be part of a Fortune 250, farmer- and member-owned cooperative that is reimagining the business of food. We have been named a Top Workplace by Indeed and LinkedIn, and to the TIME 100 Most Influential Companies list.
We provide a broad portfolio of benefits to keep you and your family at your best. Land O'Lakes is Where Your Future Takes Root.
Land O’Lakes and our global entities support diversity in employment practices.
Neither Land O’Lakes, nor its affiliates or search firms, will ever contact you and ask for confidential information over the phone or in email. If you receive a call or email like this, please do not provide the information being requested.
If you need to submit a reasonable accommodation request to complete the employment application process, please call the HR Solution Center at 844-LOL-HR4U (844-565-4748) M-F 8:00am-4:30pm CT.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in food science, Dairy Science, Chemistry, Microbiology, Engineering, or a related technical discipline
- 2 or more years of experience in food R&D, product development, process development, or technical research
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Natural or Process Cheese technical experience
Land O'Lakes, Inc. Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Land O'Lakes, Inc. and has not been reviewed or approved by Land O'Lakes, Inc..
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Retirement Support — Retirement programs include automatic company contributions to retirement savings and additional support via 401(k) and HSA contributions. Legacy eligibility for a pension plan adds further long‑term security for some employees.
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage includes medical, dental, vision, and mental health support with confidential counseling and free therapy or coaching sessions for employees and dependents. Benefits begin on the start date, removing prior waiting periods.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Paid time off, holidays, and paid leaves cover disability, parental, maternity, and caregiving needs. Caregiver and parental leave policies have been expanded to cover broader family situations, including foster placements prior to adoption.
Land O'Lakes, Inc. Insights
What We Do
Land O’Lakes, Inc. is a 100-year-old farmer- and retailer-owned cooperative originally formed with the purpose of working together to create new market opportunities. Fast forward to today and we’ve built on that uniting spirit, developing a comprehensive and leading view of agriculture while maintaining an unwavering commitment to delivering strong annual performance and long-term, shared success with our member-owners. Land O’Lakes believes farmers are the entrepreneurs who truly change the world for the better. By working together with our member-owners, we can continue to strengthen our system, champion farming’s true potential and place our farmer- and retail-owners at the heart of creating a better world for all.
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