Join the California Dairies, Inc. (CDI) team, a farmer-owned cooperative dedicated to sustainably producing the highest quality dairy products while fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration. CDI products are delivered locally and around the world. Our Visalia corporate office serves as the central hub for the CDI enterprise, driving strategic decision-making, innovation, overall business support, and growth across our diverse portfolio of dairy products and brands. We encourage you to be part of our team that's shaping the future of dairy, right from the heart of California! We offer a generous total rewards package that includes: * Annual Salary Range - $106,505 - $165,000 * Family medical/dental/vision * Generous company contributions to 401k * Relocation Assistance * 11 Paid holidays * Paid vacation * Tuition reimbursement Job Summary The Principal Food Scientist, Dairy products Innovation owns and executes the company's efforts in new product development, product optimization, and innovation for the category. This role closely collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to develop new and innovative dairy products, evolving needed pilot plant capabilities and support new business initiatives across a range of product categories. The Principal Food Scientist is regarded as the subject-matter expert on the operation and capabilities of equipment to deliver products from pilot scale to commercial launch and must demonstrate leadership through ambiguity and creative problem solving. Essential Functions * Subject Matter Expert (SME) in dairy products development and process technology with experience in Innovation, renovation, and value engineering for milk powder, high protein powders, beverages, and butter business. * First hand experience in setting up of pilot capabilities that help scale up bench top ideas/recipes while bridging the needs of commercialization. Visualize, plan, prepare, and execute trial work for projects through its life cycle. * Develop product formulas, processing procedures, specifications, and other documents and processes as required to deliver innovative dairy products that support business objectives. * Initiate as well as independently plan and execute requests for new and improved products and effectively communicate results/next steps that lead to project successes. * Deliver innovation breakthroughs in functionality, value-add, and new technologies to deliver great tasting, superior innovations in dairy products as a category. * Work closely with procurement, value engineering, and marketing teams to identify potential innovation, renovation, and productivity opportunities. * Identify opportunities for strategic research initiatives to develop dairy powder and butters in new and emerging categories. Leverage external resources of University and/or strategically partner with other companies to bring out new products and processes for the organization. * Other duties as assigned. Supervisory Responsibilities This position has no supervisory responsibilities. Education and/or Experience * 10+ years of experience in product development in the dairy industry. * Master's degree in food science, Food Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or closely related field. PhD is a plus. * SME in dairy products development and processing technologies with hands on knowledge in setting up and improving pilot plant capabilities for futuristic needs. * Strong technical skills of product formulation, industrial processes, ingredient functionality, and product-process interactions. * Expert knowledge of dairy technology, dairy chemistry, and complex food systems. * Strong project management/organization skills and the ability to advocate and align key stakeholders (including non-technical leadership). * Comfortable operating with a high degree of ambiguity. * Passionate about innovation, rapid prototyping, developing, and commercializing ideas under tight timelines. Qualifications * Strong skills in commercializing products/processes in the manufacturing environment. * Strong oral and written communications as well as presentation skills are required. * Superior record keeping of results, data analysis, and change management required. Physical Demands The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The company will make reasonable accommodations that do not cause an undue hardship to the company if such accommodation enables individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position. * Sitting/Standing/Walking: Each workday the office personnel spend about 75% of their time sitting at their desk. They walk short distances to retrieve and replace files, to photocopy or fax documents, and to interact with other office personnel. * Lifting/Carrying: Each workday the office personnel rarely carry items weighing over 15 to 20 lbs. Most items would be files or documents weighing less than 10 lbs., and most would be carried short distances. * Pushing/Pulling: Each workday the office personnel may occasionally push or pull files, stacks of documents, or boxes of documents, which may be in files or on shelves at any height. They are directed to seek assistance for anything heavy. * Bending/Stooping: Each workday the office personnel frequently squat or kneel to retrieve and replace files and documents in file drawers or on lower shelves. * Twisting/Turning: Each workday the office personnel extensively twist, turn, and move their head, neck, shoulders, arms and hands at various angles performing heavy computer input, and comparing information from their computer monitor with paper documents. While standing or sitting at their workstation, they occasionally twist or turn to retrieve or replace something form an area beside their workstation. * Climbing/Balancing: Office personnel may periodically need to walk up and down stairs. * Reaching: Each workday the office personnel may reach overhead to retrieve or replace files or documents on high shelves. * Grasping/Manipulating: Each workday the office personnel need full range of motion in both hands for heavy computer input and for using other office equipment. Work Environment The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The work is performed in an office environment. ADA/FEHA The Company will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and California's Fair Employment and Housing Act. EEO The Company is an equal employment opportunity employer. This job description will be updated if duties and responsibilities change significantly. Job functions are subject to modification based on business necessity.