Additional Considerations (if any): - At Hy-Vee our people are our strength. We promise “a helpful smile in every aisle” and those smiles can only come from a workforce that is fully engaged and committed to supporting our customers and each other. Job Description: Job Title: Food Scientist, Research and Development Supervisor Location: Hy-Vee Training & Education Center FLSA: Hourly Revision Date: 08/2025 General Function: The Food Scientist, R&D Supervisor supports the Technical Director by leading daily R&D activities, with primary focus on product development and reformulation (40%). Additional responsibilities include compliance and food safety (25%), team leadership (15%), administration and reporting (10%), and operational support (10%), ensuring products meet cost, quality, regulatory, and consumer expectations. Reporting Relations: Accountable and Reports to: Technical Director, Compliance and Food Protection Primary Duties and Responsibilities: R&D Innovation + Lead reformulation of existing products and assist creation of new products to achieve cost, nutrition, and labeling objectives (e.g., cost optimization, sodium and sugar reduction, clean label). + Manage all stages of the R&D process including concept development, formulation, supplier qualification, benchtop testing, scale-up, and commercialization. + Collaborate with supply chain and retail leadership partners to optimize production processes for scalability, cost, quality, and product integrity. + Support start-up and launch of new and optimized products. + Supervise and participate in benchtop trials and sensory panels, ensuring process validation, ingredient evaluation, labeling accuracy, food safety, and logistics. + Provide culinary and technical expertise during development and commercialization, including consulting, assisting with creation of training materials, and coaching retail department personnel. Regulatory & Quality + Partner with labeling to ensure compliance in nutrition analysis, allergen management, ingredient audits, and regulatory verification. + Supervise sensory testing of new products, ingredients, and packaging. + Maintain and distribute product specifications for Hy-Vee Foods products. + Oversee ingredient sourcing, auditing, and qualification of new and secondary suppliers. + Support procurement with onboarding of products, vendors, and suppliers. Team Leadership & Development + Foster a culture of food safety, innovation, and continuous improvement. + Manage schedules, assignments, and priorities for Food Scientists. + Train, supervise, and mentor team members. Administration & Reporting + Ensure accurate recordkeeping of formulas, procedures, yields, and production notes. + Provide weekly project status reports to management. Secondary Duties and Responsibilities: Operational Support + Assist retail operations as needed. + Maintain ingredient records and related documentation. + Assist with special projects and cross-department initiatives, as assigned. Facilities & Equipment + Maintain R&D kitchens and storage areas to company standards of cleanliness and safety. + Assist with upkeep of R&D equipment and tools. Skills and Abilities Required to Perform Job: Technical Expertise + Strong knowledge of food manufacturing, distribution, safety programs, and sanitation standards. + Familiarity with USDA/FDA regulations, nutrition labeling, and compliance requirements. + Comprehensive experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) Leadership & Collaboration + Proven supervisory and mentoring skills. + Strong communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate across teams with an emphasis on making technical information understandable to diverse audiences in a practical manner. + Skilled at planning, prioritizing, and executing multiple projects in a fast-paced environment. Attention to Detail & Compliance + Accuracy in recordkeeping and regulatory documentation. + Ability to manage confidential information with discretion. Education and Experience: + Bachelor’s degree in Food Science or related field required + 4-6 years of experience in food manufacturing, retail food operations, or product development with success scaling from benchtop to commercialization. + Strong knowledge of FDA/USDA regulations, food safety standards, and nutrition labeling. Physical Requirements: + Ability to perform light work, occasionally lifting up to 20 lbs. + Visual requirements: near and far vision, depth perception, color vision, and field of vision (with or without correction). + Ability to climb, balance, stoop, kneel, reach, stand, walk, push, pull, lift, grasp, talk, hear, and perform repetitive motions. Working Conditions: + Primarily office or laboratory (climate-controlled) environment + Occasional work in manufacturing and warehouse settings, including occasional travel + Frequent deadlines while managing multiple priorities. Equipment Used to Perform Job: + Computer, tablet, photocopier, phone system. + Food preparation and production equipment in test kitchens and retail environments. Are you ready to smile, apply today.