Research and Development Specialist

Join Us
Our team is looking for a Research and Development Specialist for our Mississauga facility. Join our family of diverse, talented, and dedicated people and become part of an industry-leading company as we strive to be the most successful food company in the world.

**Title**: Research and Development Specialist

**Location**: Mississauga

**Job Type**: Salary

Role Description
Reporting to the Senior Manager, Research and Development. Take ownership for the development and commercialization of new products and enhancements of existing products while meeting our pillars of cost, quality, service, environment, and safety.
Main Duties
- Act as Team Lead on product development initiatives.
- Collaborate with marketing and sales to provide technical support, clarify product requirements, and support product launch. Conduct product evaluation of competitive products. Prepare samples for customers and internal presentation. Coordinate distribution of samples.
- Work with Quality Assurance on preparation and production of samples, testing; nutritional analysis, shelf-life studies.
- Developproduct specifications and standard operating procedures, product formulation, process and critical to quality product specifications. Assist with creating and maintaining customer specifications.
- Manage plant trials and production launches, ensuring plants are trained and products meet yield and quality standards.
- Lead continuous improvement projects as required.
- Work with Regulatory group to ensure that products comply with government regulations and certification requirements.
- Work with Purchasing and suppliers to source and test ingredients and packaging. Source alternate suppliers of existing dry goods and/or raw materials. Conduct research and testing of new ingredients, process techniques, packaging and technologies.
- Detail formulation inputs, product process and labour in costing model. Work with Finance in the creation of Bill of Materials.
- Maintain R&D areas and fulfill other related duties

**Requirements**:
Education & Experience
- Post-secondary education in Food Science, Science, Engineering, Culinary or related field
- A minimum of 1-3 years in food, product development or related field
- Meat industry experience preferred, but not required

**Skills & Behaviours**:

- Organizational and project management skills
- Communication skills, both oral and written
- Ability to work in and lead a team
- Analytical ability; methodical/critical thinker and problem solver; attention to detail
- Curiosity and drive to ask questions to understand multiple facets of the business
- Computer literacy (MS Office)
- Self-starter who will function under the direction of the Senior Manager, R&D with mínimal supervision.

Work Conditions and Physical Capabilities
- Average 40 hours per week. Specific times can vary depending on manufacturing hours and project needs.
- Regular work in raw slaughter and further processing manufacturing facilities
- There is regular deadline pressure.
- Vehicle required.
- Occasional travel to out of city and out of province facilities

**What we have to offer**:

- Full benefits (health, dental, vision, and disability) from day one.
- Pension plan with company match after one year service
- $2,000 referral bonus

Sofina Foods Inc.is a privately owned Canadian company headquartered in Markham, Ontario, Canada dedicated to providing great-tasting, high-quality food products for consumers. Our workforce is exceptionally diverse with professional opportunities across many functional areas of our business.

SMARK

Sofina Foods Inc. is committed to providing accessible employment practices that are in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (‘AODA’). Applicants are asked to make their needs/requirements, for the purpose of accommodation under AODA, known to Human Resources when they are contacted for an interview.