Location:

Denver CO

Your Role

The R&D Senior Scientist works closely to support customer needs by designing and executing experiments, prototype development, pilot/plant trials, and serving as a key member of larger cross-functional teams including Sales, Marketing, Technical Service, and others.  In this role, you will leverage the entire Ardent Mills portfolio of ingredients to provide solutions to customers utilizing both Traditional Wheat flour and a broad variety of Emerging Nutrition ingredients including ancient grains, alternative grains, and pulses.

You will apply your expertise in ingredient functionality, flavor, and nutrition to demonstrate Ardent Mills portfolio of ingredients in many different product applications.  Whether developing and presenting a gluten free wholegrain bread concept on stage at a tradeshow or a unique prototype formulation for specific customer solution, The R&D Senior Scientist has a highly visible role both inside Ardent Mills and externally as well.  Applying your scientific training and years of practical work experience toward developing and optimizing solutions for customers is an important part of your responsibility.

In addition to serving customers, you will also lead project teams such as leading technical development and launch of new products through Ardent Mills stage-gate process from concept through commercialization.  You will quickly establish yourself as an internal expert in key ingredients, product applications, and/or other critical skillsets such as managing sensory testing or designing a shelf-life study of new ingredients.  You will work both independently and more often collaborate together with the rest of the R&D team to achieve critical business objectives. 

To succeed, you must be able to:

• Deliver results in first-time situations by inspiring others and working to earn trust every day.
• Serve others with understanding, respect, and care.
• Operate with simplicity, clarity, and transparency.
• Deal with and drive change.
• Organize, prioritize, and own multiple assignments while meeting or exceeding deadlines.
• Learn and apply new technology and share your knowledge with others.

Above all you will be expected to carry out all your activities with reliability, integrity, compliance and in a safe, environmentally responsible, and efficient manner.

Your Responsibilities

Responsible to provide R&D expertise and support as part of a cross-functional team to develop innovation concepts and prototypes, ingredient application prototypes and product improvements, ingredient support, and to fulfill customer requests.  Build positive and trusting relationships with our customers to serve their needs. 

Responsible for developing strong expertise in key Ardent Mills ingredients including composition, structure, function, flavor, nutrition, applications, and shelf life.  Through a combination of research and experimentation, develop a deep understanding and technical expertise of Ardent Mills ingredients for both internal and external customers.    

Lead technical development of solutions to customer targeted initiatives from idea through commercialization.  Collaborate positively with internal stakeholders (i.e., Marketing, Sales, RQT, Operations, Supply Chain, Finance) through proven ability to build solid relationships, earning trust, and demonstrate the ability to get results in timely manner with attention to timelines and deadlines.

Proactively represent Ardent Mills perspectives and interests in professional and scientific organizations, advocating goodness of grains and plant-based ingredients, and presenting in technical forums.  Actively cultivate a broad network of contacts both within and outside the organization to support the existing and future ingredient pipeline.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree and higher in Food Science or closely related discipline and 8+ years additional industry experience developing and commercializing grain and alternative grain solutions for customers.
• Expertise in one or more of the following ingredient categories:  Cereal grains, ancient grains, and alternative grains and pulses
• Significant experience in formulation and processing of one or more of the following categories:  Breads, sweet baked goods, flatbreads and tortillas, snacks and crackers, pet food and treats, beverages.
• Strong customer relationship development experience including innovation prototyping, technical presentations, ingredient functionality and application support, and problem solving.
• Experience in successfully managing multiple projects and deadlines within a matrixed organization with strict attention to detail and prioritization.
• Highly motivated, high integrity, self-starter with demonstrated ability to work effectively both independently and as part of cross-functional teams.  Able to develop positive working relationships with others.
• Proven ability to build solid relationships, earn the confidence of internal stakeholders and demonstrate the ability to get results in timely manner with attention to timelines and deadlines.
• Demonstrated technical curiosity, creativity, and ability to innovate. Creatively solve technical and operational hurdles to reach a business goal.
• Must be proactive, flexible, organized, with the ability to handle changing priorities.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal to work effectively with internal customers and external partners.

Preferred

• Masters or Ph.D. in Food Science or closely related discipline and 6+ years additional industry experience developing and commercializing grain and alternative grain solutions for customers.
• Expertise in ingredient and application testing methods including composition, functionality, flavor, and nutrition testing
• Experience testing from bench through production scale and additionally ingredient commercialization experience.
• Experience in formulation and processing of sweet baked goods, flatbreads and tortillas, and/or snacks and crackers
• Sensory and Consumer testing expertise
• Ingredient shelf-life design and testing experience

Other Considerations

• Ability to travel up to 25+% for business.
• Ardent Mills is headquartered in Denver, CO. This traditional role is based at the Denver Headquarters location and will require 4-5 days per week onsite.
• Able to lift to 25 lbs. and work near extreme temperatures (typical of kitchen, R&D lab environments, and food service operations environment)
• Able to work with and consume wheat products, i.e. no wheat /gluten sensitivity, intolerance and/or allergies.

At Ardent Mills, everyone matters, and everyone has a voice.  We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal opportunities are available to all applicants and team members and the decisions will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs.  We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.  We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, aboriginality, ancestry, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, genetic information, veteran status, age, political affiliation, or any other non-merit characteristic protected by law or not.  Together, celebrating our differences, we make Ardent Mills.

The preceding position description has been designed to indicate the general nature and essential duties and responsibilities of work performed by employees within this position.  It may not contain a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees in this position. The description, duties, functions, and responsibilities are subject to change at the discretion of Ardent Mills. 

Location:

Denver Office CO

Address:

1875 Lawrence Street, Denver CO, 80202

Additional Locations (if applicable):

Employment Type:

Additional Information:

COMPETITIVE COMPENSATION:

We provide market-driven base pay, based on skills, abilities, and level of experiences. Our salary ranges are broad, and individual salary will be market competitive based on a candidate’s unique set of skills and level of experience. The starting range for this position is $95,807.27 - $127,782.95, with additional earning potential possible commensurate with experience. Additionally, we believe that our team members are the reason for our success and all team members are incentive eligible with a target based on contribution, company performance, and individual results achieved. While the specific bonus plan and target amount will be determined based on the role and breadth of contributions, the targeted bonus plan and targeted percentage amount for this role is Bonus - MIP, 5% Annual.

BENEFITS:

At Ardent Mills we offer a wide range of benefits to our team members and their eligible family members. Some of our great benefit programs you may be eligible for include: • Medical, Dental and Vision Coverage• Health and Dependent Savings Accounts • Life and Disability Programs • Voluntary Benefit Programs • Company Sponsored Wellness Programs • Retirement Savings with Company Match • Team Member and Family Assistance Program (EAP) • Paid Time Off and Paid Holidays • Employee Recognition Program with Rewards (RAVE).

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