Job Description

Job Title

International Senior R&D Nutritionist

Job #

US19211

Requisition Type

Regular

Function

Product Development

State/Province

Virginia

City

Blacksburg

Region

US

Posting Start Date

Oct-02-2024

Division Information

The Pet Care business unit of Spectrum Brands is based in St. Louis, Missouri with distribution, manufacturing and sales offices throughout the US and globe. Owners of dogs, cats, birds, small animals, fish and reptiles rely on our brands for exceptional value and trusted results. Our industry-leading brands include Tetra®, Instant Ocean®, Marineland®, 8-in-1®, Dingo®, FURminator®, Nature’s Miracle®, GloFish®, DreamBone® and SmartBones®.

Job Summary

The International Senior R&D Nutritionist is responsible for leading a team that formulates new products within regional regulatory guidelines, bringing new ideas for innovation, and much more! This position is part of an experienced R&D team with flexible management and responsive leadership dedicated to building careers. This role will take direction from the Sr. R&D Manager and Marketing to identify pet market needs and develop innovative solutions for a global market. Come join a winning team that manages a growing $1.2 billion product portfolio!

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

Product Development (50%)

• Proficient in formulating pet nutritional products, including feed supplements, treats, and diets
• Lead the development of products for the International and/or US pet markets according to the relevant regulations
• Collaborate with Regulatory to formulate products that adhere to the guidelines set forth by regulatory bodies, including AAFCO, FDA, and specific regional regulatory bodies
• Substantiate product label claims based on peer-reviewed literature and/or clinical efficacy test results
• Collaborate with Global Marketing and the New Product Development team to establish working project timelines and develop innovative products
• Provide product formulation guidance with U.S. and global 3rd party manufacturers 
• Ensure appropriate statistical analysis of efficacy testing data, collaborate with internal colleagues and external testing facilities to develop efficacy testing protocols
• Manage internal and 3rd party global supplier R&D teams that develop and standardize analytical methods, including methods used for product analysis per regional regulatory guidance
• Oversee internal and 3rd party global supplier R&D teams that perform stability studies and appropriate analysis of data to determine product shelf-life
• Ensure appropriate R&D team involvement in manufacturing pilots and line trials
• Partner with Food Safety and Regulatory to develop safe and efficacious products that adhere to all regulatory guidelines
• Create written documents to substantiate product claims through literature review and/or efficacy testing
• Lead integration activity as newly acquired brands join the portfolio
• Ability to facilitate and coordinate R&D Led Innovation Events (brainstorming, presenting, developing innovative product ideas that align with brand strategy, leading multi-level R&D team with a focus on innovation
• Work with the Sr. R&D Manager and Product Marketing to identify customer and consumer needs and develop unique product solutions
• Collaborate with the Sr. R&D Manager, Marketing, and Legal teams to identify meaningful Intellectual Property (IP) and execute appropriate protection

Process Development (40%)

• Investigate consumer complaints, implement corrective actions if needed
• Implement formulations for cost improvement, improve manufacturing performance using a value engineering approach
• Ensure consistent product development processes across multiple product areas and brands
• Investigate and troubleshoot manufacturing issues
• Lead continuous improvement of New Product Development (NPD) and working processes, as well as interdepartmental relationships with the R&D team
• Partner with Regulatory to ensure products adhere to ever evolving regulatory guidelines
• Contribute to the company Speed to Market initiative by prioritizing time and resources
• Provide technical expertise to Sales and Marketing during customer innovation meetings and line reviews

Team Career Development (10%)

• Focus on employee retention by requesting continual team feedback and implementation of unique strategies to drive positive team culture
• Perform annual and mid-year check-ins with all levels of team
• Promote team career development through implementation of detailed Individual Development Plans
• Create defined career paths that provide details for next-level career progression
• Continually recruit top talent and shift resources as business needs evolve

Education and Experience Profile

• Master’s degree required with 2+ years of experience in product development and/or nutritional formulation or a Bachelor’s degree with 7+ years of experience in product development and/or nutritional formulation
• Preference given to those with Chemistry, Biology, Food Sciences, Animal Sciences, or related science background
• Experience leading a team with multiple levels of direct reports
• Experience in project and budget management preferred
• Previous experience developing nutritional products required
• Preference given to those fluent in both Spanish and English

Required Skills

• Proven track record in the development of commercially viable formulas
• Experience in nutritional product formulation, product development, and testing
• Proven ability to lead a team with multiple levels of direct reports
• Positive interpersonal skills and the ability to work well within a team setting
• Effective management of project timelines, product resources, and team budget
• Experience developing testing protocols for claims substantiation
• Experience researching and writing scientific substantiation documents
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with all levels within the organization
• Experience inspiring positive team culture
• Demonstrated competency in development of a wide range of formulation types
• Demonstrated knowledge of laboratory operations, equipment, and safety requirements
• Possess strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Strong Leadership Skills
• Strong Analytical Skills
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral
• PC Skills: Excel, PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Adobe, etc.

Work Environment

90-95% office environment with hybrid work schedule and additional flexibility on an as needed basis

10% travel on an as needed basis

The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this job/classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

Spectrum Brands is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.

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