Scientist

About Tropicana Brands Group

Tropicana Brands Group represents an exciting fusion of some of the worlds most beloved and up-and-coming brands in the juice category including Tropicana Naked KeVita Izze Dole Copella and Punica. Tropicana Brands Group was established in 2022 as a joint venture between PAI Partners and PepsiCo. Our new company blends the best of two worlds: one steeped in industry-leading expertise and the heritage of prestige juice brands and another rooted in a true entrepreneurial agile mindset.

With a global footprint of more than 2000 associates that spans North America and Europe we are proud of our industry-leading capabilities in areas that include innovation R&D manufacturing distribution sales marketing and nutrition expertise.

The company is focused on the vision to quench the worlds thirst for more delight and nourishment while continuing to build upon the many important diversity sustainability local community and philanthropic activities that our people and brands have historically supported.

Job Description:

Tropicana Brands Group R&D is looking for a highly qualified Scientist to support productivity projects quality improvement initiatives systems and process development and select consumer-driven innovation. The ideal candidate will be a curious hands-on detail-oriented product developer with strong math and technical calculation skills strong Excel and PowerPoint capability and effective communication and collaboration skills in a fast-paced environment.

As part of an entrepreneurial culture the ideal candidate will bring an ownership mindset a consumer-first approach a process-minded way of working and a willingness to learn and grow within a nimble R&D organization. Comfort working through ambiguity adapting quickly managing details accurately and applying sound technical judgment is important. Successful candidates enjoy hands-on beverage product development structured documentation and cross-functional collaboration while contributing to well-established and loved brands within a growing beverage company.

The position is based in Chicago IL.

Responsibilities include:

• Execute productivity initiatives including formulation process ingredient and cost optimization opportunities
• Support execution of assigned quality improvement projects by applying scientific methods data analysis and technical problem-solving to product and process challenges
• Support End-to-End Quality Program activities including documentation cross-functional follow-up and execution of assigned R&D actions
• Support the development improvement and maintenance of standardized R&D processes procedures templates and ways of working to improve consistency clarity and execution across the organization.
• Plan execute document and interpret laboratory pilot plant and manufacturing-scale experiments to develop technical recommendations for product process quality and productivity opportunities
• Support select consumer-driven innovation and renovation projects including beverage formulation ingredient selection sensory evaluation shelf-life support and scale-up from laboratory through commercial manufacturing
• Perform and verify R&D calculations including formulation math ingredient usage percent solids dilution yield cost and related beverage development calculations
• Create clear accurate technical documentation for assigned projects including experiment summaries formulation records specifications trial reports technical recommendations and project updates.
• Support plant trials and commercialization activities including process validation startup support and troubleshooting during manufacturing implementation
• Leverage external and internal experts for key analytical sensory and consumer research
• Perform economic evaluations on ingredients ingredient suppliers and product formulations to drive profitability
• Participate as an active member of cross-functional project teams partnering with Marketing Purchasing Engineering Operations Quality and other groups
• Develop and maintain complete product attribute specifications for ingredients and finished products
• Use innovative and critical thinking skills to help solve technical and organizational challenges
• Work through ambiguous technical problems with guidance to identify options next steps and tradeoffs
• Use strong teamwork collaboration communication and project coordination skills to support cross-functional projects on time and on budget

QUALIFICATIONS:

• S. in Food Science & Technology or related scientific field; advanced degree preferred
• 2 years of experience in product development beverage experience a plus
• Proficiency in Excel for data analysis calculations tracking and documentation; PowerPoint experience for summarizing technical findings recommendations and project updates. Ability to learn new software as needed
• Ability to manage multiple project tasks and priorities with ability to adapt quickly to changing priorities and unexpected requests
• Ability and interest to work in laboratory pilot plant and manufacturing scale environments
• Ability to work with lab and analytical equipment (pH meter Brix meter centrifuge analytical balance etc.)
• Comfort developing improving and following standardized ways of working across R&D processes documentation systems and data management
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail and strong math calculation skills including formulation calculations percent solids dilution yield cost and ingredient usage calculations
• Demonstrated ability to build effective working relationships with cross-functional business partners including Marketing Supply Chain Operations Quality and Sales
• Ability to work effectively escalate risks appropriately and adapt in a fast-paced environment with ambiguity and change
• Project coordination skills including timelines milestones documentation and cross-functional collaboration
• Ability to translate business objectives into clear technical tasks and project deliverables
• Must be open to 15-25% domestic travel

Required Experience:

IC