Senior Food Technologist (R&D) at Shearers Foods

Massillon, Ohio, United States

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Not SpecifiedCompensation

Senior (5 to 8 years)Experience Level

Full TimeJob Type

UnknownVisa

Food Manufacturing, Snack FoodsIndustries

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science or related discipline required; Master’s preferred
7–10 years of experience in food product development, preferably in snack or CPG manufacturing
Expert knowledge of ingredient functionality, food safety, product formulation, and sensory evaluation
Proficiency with TraceGains and Genesis or similar nutritional labeling systems
Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional product development projects within a Stage-Gate process
Strong communication, collaboration, and project management skills with ability to influence across technical and commercial functions
Experience mentoring or supervising technical team members
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teams)
Willingness to travel up to 10% for plant trials, supplier visits, and customer collaboration

Responsibilities

Lead seasoning and product development from concept to commercialization ensuring compliance with safety, regulatory, and quality standards
Provide technical knowledge, direction, and leadership across product formulation, seasoning optimization, and process improvement initiatives
Partner with cross-functional teams—including Manufacturing, Commercialization, Procurement, Quality, and Vendors—to deliver innovation and value
Develop, plan, and manage multiple projects simultaneously across customers and categories, ensuring timely and successful execution through Stage-Gate governance
Conduct plant trials to evaluate and optimize new products, ingredients, and processes, including pre-, during-, and post-trial reviews
Execute analytical testing and shelf-life studies to ensure product performance, stability, and compliance with labeling and regulatory standards
Lead and support sensory evaluations, internal panels, and consumer testing to guide formulation decisions
Identify and deliver product cost savings, ingredient substitutions, or manufacturing efficiencies without compromising taste or quality
Leverage TraceGains and Genesis (or similar) systems to manage ingredient specifications, nutritional data, and quality attributes
Collaborate with sourcing teams to identify suppliers, evaluate new technologies, and ensure business continuity for critical ingredients
Coach and mentor junior technologists, providing technical and professional development support
Contribute to Shearer’s Value Creation Plan (VCP) by enabling growth through innovation, health-forward formulation, and flavor expansion
Translate consumer and market trends into actionable product opportunities that strengthen Shearer’s leadership in the private label and co-manufacturing space
Lead continuous improvement projects that advance Shearer’s technical capabilities and product quality standards

Skills

Food Science

Product Development

Seasoning Formulation

Process Optimization

Sensory Evaluation

Shelf-Life Studies

Analytical Testing

Stage-Gate Governance

Plant Trials

TraceGains

Genesis

Regulatory Compliance

Quality Standards

Ingredient Specifications

Shearers Foods

Manufactures diverse range of snack foods

About Shearers Foods

Shearer's Snacks offers a robust work environment leveraging advanced manufacturing facilities and sustainable production approaches to create a diverse array of snack foods. The company's emphasis on environmental sustainability not only meets industry standards but also fosters a culture of responsibility and innovation among its team members. This focus on eco-friendly practices and state-of-the-art technology makes it an appealing workplace for those passionate about sustainable practices and cutting-edge manufacturing processes.

Massillon, OhioHeadquarters

1974Year Founded

$53MTotal Funding

DEBTCompany Stage

Food & Agriculture, Consumer GoodsIndustries

11-50Employees

Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Flexible Spending Account

401(k) Company Match

Short Term Disability

Long Term Disability

Group Critical Accident Insurance

Group Critical Illness Insurance

Employee Assistance Plan

Risks

Closure of Lubbock facility indicates potential volatility in customer relationships.

Class action lawsuit for unpaid overtime could lead to financial liabilities.

Acquisition by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice may disrupt current operations or morale.

Differentiation

Shearer's Foods offers a wide range of gluten-free and non-GMO snack options.

The company is a leading private label supplier in the North American snack industry.

Shearer's Foods invests in sustainable packaging to meet consumer expectations.

Upsides

Shearer's Foods received $12.5M in tax credits for a new facility in Moraine.

The company plans a $106M investment in facility renovation and equipment upgrades.

Growing demand for private label products aligns with Shearer's market position.

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