R&d Food Scientist

Join Riverside Natural Foods Ltd., a $300 million+ Canadian-based, family-owned, and globally operating business, committed to leaving the world better than we found it. As a B-Corp certified, Triple-Bottom Line company, we proudly manufacture nutritious, 'better-for-you' snacks such as MadeGood and GOOD TO GO. We value teamwork, humility, respect, ownership, adaptability, grit, and fun.

We're on an ambitious mission to double our business by 2027, and we need talented individuals like you to help us reach new heights. At Riverside, you'll have the opportunity to chart your own path to success while contributing to ours. We believe anything worth doing is worth doing right, and our values will guide us through the rugged terrain - and yes, it will get rough. But that's what makes the journey worthwhile.

So, lace up your boots and let's tackle the climb together.

**Position Summary/Objective**:
Reporting to the R&D Director or his/her representative, the **R&D Food Scientist** is responsible for bringing new formulations to life. The Food Scientist will be a self-starter with a strong passion for understanding manufacturing processes and how these interact with our formulations. They will thrive on quick problem solving, foster a technical mindset and can navigate a complex production environment. This role is dynamic, fast-paced, and requires the R&D Food Scientist to embrace change and challenge.

**Primary Responsibilities**:

- Commercialize formulations for new innovative products, with an operation's savvy mindset, considering equipment capability, nutritional profile, consumer needs, cost and sensory targets.
- Real-time problem-solving production issues on the factory floor, collaborating with stakeholders to arrive at evidence-based solutions
- Responsible for executing R&D commissioning of new equipment/ factory lines to expand capacity
- Plans and executes plant trials in conjunction with the Operations team, using results to make data-driven recommendations and actionable next steps
- Delivers and maintains detail-oriented manufacturing & formula specifications
- Maintains up-to-date ingredient & finished product information in Genesis software
- Leads projects to improve productivity, quality, & consistency using a data-forward approach
- Collaborates closely with stakeholders (Procurement, Quality, Operations) on projects requiring R&D expertise
- Proactively executes projects to improve R&D processes & capabilities
- Keeps updated documentation of assigned projects
- Contributes to building Riverside internal R&D and product development processes

**Skills and Abilities**:

- Undergraduate degree in Food Science or a related scientific discipline
- 2+ years previous R&D experience commercializing new products within the food industry
- Experience using Genesis, TraceGains and Compusense would be an asset
- Strong belief in Riverside's mission and wholeheartedly embody our core values: Humility, Respect, Teamwork, Fun, Grit, Ownership, Adaptability
- Strong affinity for data analysis and critical thinking with meticulous attention to detail
- Proactive mindset with a continuous learning mentality
- Quick and creative problem solver
- Comfortable with ambiguity, resilient and adapts quickly to changing priorities
- Commitment to technical excellence and data-driven decision-making
- Excellent project manager and team player with ability to work effectively across the organization
- Passion to shape the future of R&D at Riverside
- Knowledge of sensory science is a plus
- Ability to travel approximately 10% of the time inside and outside Canada

**What we expect**:

- **Values-led**: You'll be a member of a thoughtful and compassionate team that prioritizes respect, teamwork and resourcefulness along with a good dash of fun. Sometimes, even making granola bars is hard, and life's too short to take ourselves so seriously that we don't enjoy the journey.
- **Unparalleled experiences and opportunities**: We're still determining who we are and what we can be. Help us shape what this organization will look like and what we'll offer the world, into the future. This means rolling up your sleeves and sometimes building the process - fast - while employing it. At Riverside, progress occasionally means proceeding imperfectly, and we're okay with that, as long as we're staying true to our values and learning and improving along the way.
- **Access to everyone**: We're a flat organization with few silos which means you'll have full access to everyone from our founders to our production staff. Even when employees dress up, they wear steel-toed shoes. So don't be shy. Speak up, share your ideas and go places you normally wouldn't - like the plant, or the boardroom.
- **Personal development**: We'll support and empower you to chart your own path and reach any heights you set for yourself. Career paths at Riverside are carved by the people walking on them, not dictated by leaders. Count on us to give you the