About the role
Description
About the Company
For over 60 years, Branding Iron Holdings (“BIH”) has been producing high quality beef and pork products while delivering customized solutions to the food service and retail trade industries. With an eye to the future, BIH has put a strong focus on building internal talent and on leveraging unique product lines and national distribution to drive continued growth. Guided by a strong set of core values (Respect, Integrity and Stewardship), reflecting a culture of servant leadership at every level, BIH’s team works hard to foster a culture that embraces and builds meaningful, long-term relationships with both employees and its customer base.
Position Summary: The
Senior R&D Scientist leads formula and process development initiatives for new and existing products, focusing on innovation and operational excellence. This role is hands-on, driving product development from ideation through commercialization, and collaborating across departments to support strategic objectives.
Responsibilities: Lead end-to-end development of new products, from concept creation to full-scale manufacturing
Conduct ingredient research and source novel components for innovative formulations and cost reduction opportunities
Design and execute structured ideation processes aligned with company goals and consumer trends
Develop and optimize recipes for flavor, texture, nutrition, and shelf life, ensuring regulatory and quality standards
Plan and conduct plant trials, oversee scale-up, and troubleshoot technical challenges
Create and manage product specifications and bill of materials (BOM) reviews
Maintain accurate records and analyze reports
Ownership of formulas and production instructions until proven successful
Provide onsite monitoring and technical assistance during product testing and manufacturing
Lead commercialization of product changes and implementation of new items and processes
Document all R&D activities, formulations, and ingredient specifications with attention to detail
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement new formulations, processes, and equipment
Identify and lead projects to drive revenue and margin growth
Stay abreast of industry trends, new technologies, and market dynamics in meat science, food safety, and food processing
Other duties as assigned
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Meat Science, Food Science, Chemistry, Engineering, or related field
Graduate degree (MS/PhD) preferred
- 5–10 years of industry experience, or 3–8 years with a graduate degree
- Processing and operations experience a plus
- Proven leadership skills and ability to manage teams
- Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
- Excellent communication and project management abilities
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel)
Benefits Overview
Competitive base salary ($140,000-170,000 annual annually). Base salary is one component of a competitive compensation package for employees. Full benefits package, including medical/ vision/ dental/life insurance, 401(k) with company match, and paid time off. We take into consideration a variety of factors including, but not limited to, skills, abilities, experience, education, credentials, and internal equity when determining the base salary offered. Roles are eligible for additional rewards including an annual incentive program based on individual and company performance.
Branding Iron Holdings is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, age, gender identity or expression, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital status, disability, veteran status, religion, national origin, or any other characteristic protected by applicable equal employment opportunity laws.