Research Scientist - Product Development
Role Overview
Develop, optimize, and commercialize dairy products from concept through commercialization readiness.
Apply food science, especially dairy science and technology, to support business objectives.
Reports to the Senior Manager, R&D Capabilities & Excellence.
Key Skills for This Role
Full Job Posting
Location and work setting
- The role is based in Hamilton and is explicitly onsite.
Role scope
Develop, optimize, and commercialize dairy products from concept through commercialization readiness.
Apply food science, especially dairy science and technology, to support business objectives.
Reports to the Senior Manager, R&D Capabilities & Excellence.
Responsibilities
- Support research, innovation, technology evaluation, and product platform development; lead assigned product development projects.
- Develop formulations and analytical methods; plan and execute laboratory, benchtop, pilot, and plant-scale experiments.
- Evaluate ingredients and technologies, analyze trial data, and recommend technical product solutions.
- Support scale-up, validation, commercialization, and troubleshooting across quality, processing, shelf-life, sensory, and regulatory matters.
- Conduct sensory evaluations, monitor product performance, and recommend improvements.
- Maintain accurate R&D records and documentation; collaborate with internal teams, suppliers, and research partners.
- Communicate findings and project risks, share technical knowledge, and contribute to R&D capability building and continuous improvement.
- Follow applicable Food Safety and Quality System responsibilities and undertake other relevant duties.
Qualifications and experience
- A bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Dairy Science, Food Technology, or a related field is required; advanced qualifications are an asset.
- At least three years of relevant product development, applied research, or technical commercialization experience in the food industry; dairy experience is preferred.
- Experience with product characterization, such as rheology, viscosity, texture, or related analytical testing, is preferred.
- Requires access to a car and a valid Ontario driving licence.
Knowledge and skills
- Strong food and dairy science foundation and knowledge of dairy ingredients, formulation, sensory evaluation, shelf-life, and dairy manufacturing.
- Skills in experimental design, data analysis, technical reporting, interpreting product characterization results, and root-cause analysis.
- Project management, prioritization, organization, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
- Ability to use relevant systems, including D365, Optiva, Power BI, and WMS; flexibility to support activities outside regular schedules when required.
About Gay Lea Foods
Gay Lea Foods is a Canadian dairy farmer-owned cooperative founded in 1958 that produces dairy products and operates across Canada.
Apply for this job in 1 click
Skip the repetitive application forms
Install the Base Career Chrome Extension and autofill job applications across major job boards with your profile.
Trusted by over 500,000 job seekers on Base Career
More from this employer
More jobs at Gay Lea Foods
HSE Implementation Manager
Toronto, CAN
Gay Lea Foods is seeking an HSE Implementation Manager to roll out and improve safety and environmental programs across its sites. The role leads compliance, risk reduction, audits, training, and stakeholder engagement;
Operations Training Lead
Toronto, CAN
Gay Lea Foods is seeking an Operations Training Lead to identify skill gaps and develop, deliver, and coordinate practical training across manufacturing sites. The role requires at least three years of manufacturing trai
Senior Manager, R&D Capabilities and Excellence
Hamilton, CAN
Gay Lea Foods is seeking a senior manager to strengthen R&D operations, capabilities, and execution across its research and development organization. The role leads and develops technical teams, builds operating systems
Supervisor, R&D Technical Operations
Hamilton, CAN
Gay Lea Foods is seeking an R&D Technical Operations Supervisor to manage laboratory and pilot-plant operations, equipment, technicians, and food-safety practices. The role requires a relevant college diploma and at leas
Manager, Indirect Procurement
Toronto, CAN
Gay Lea Foods seeks a Manager, Indirect Procurement to build and lead centralized procurement across Canadian operations. Candidates need 7+ years in procurement or strategic sourcing, including 3+ years managing indirec
Customer Supply Chain Representative
Toronto, CAN
Gay Lea Foods is seeking a Customer Supply Chain Representative for a four-month contract to manage order fulfillment and customer communications for assigned accounts. Candidates need at least two years of customer serv
Regulatory Affairs Coordinator
Toronto, CAN
Gay Lea Foods is seeking a Regulatory Affairs Coordinator to support regulatory affairs and consumer relations programs. The role coordinates product label updates, maintains product information and certification records
HSE Implementation Manager
Toronto, CAN
Operations Training Lead
Toronto, CAN
Senior Manager, R&D Capabilities and Excellence
Hamilton, CAN
Supervisor, R&D Technical Operations
Hamilton, CAN
Manager, Indirect Procurement
Toronto, CAN
Customer Supply Chain Representative
Toronto, CAN
Regulatory Affairs Coordinator
Toronto, CAN
Lab Technician
, CAN