Location:

Denver CO

PRODUCT INNOVATION R&D: BAKED GOODS SENIOR FOOD SCIENTIST

Ardent Mills 

Ardent Mills is a premier flour-milling and ingredients company whose vision is to be the trusted partner in nurturing its customers, consumers, and communities through innovative and nutritious grain-based solutions. Ardent Mills’ operations and services are supported by 35 community flour mills, three bakery-mix facilities and a specialty bakery, all located in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. Deeply rooted in communities throughout North America, Ardent Mills employs more than 100 certified millers, supporting thousands of local jobs and contributing billions of dollars to local economies. 

Position Purpose

Ardent Mills is searching for a Baked Goods Senior Food Scientist who would be responsible for research and development projects focused on creating new ingredients and/or food applications or improving existing ones. The ideal candidate for this position will have the ability to work with multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. They will need to be able to work effectively in a team environment across multiple business units and teams, as well as be a strong individual contributor. The Baked Goods Senior Food Scientist would ensure food safety compliance, enforce regulations, and provide technical guidance. 

A successful candidate will have the following attributes: 

• The ability to deliver results in first-time situations by inspiring others and working to earn trust every day.  

• The willingness to serve others with understanding, respect, and care.  

• The ability to operate with simplicity, clarity and transparency.  

• The willingness to effectively deal with and drive change.  

• The ability to organize, prioritize and own multiple tasks while meeting and/or exceeding deadlines.  

• The ability to learn and apply new technology, with the willingness to share knowledge with others.  

Above all you will be expected to carry out all your activities with reliability, integrity, compliance and in a safe, environmentally responsible, and efficient manner. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assist in developing and advancing consumer centric innovation pipeline by collaborating with key cross-functional partners while leveraging resources, the broader R&D team, and external expertise.
• Build insights based on development learnings to accelerate product development timelines.
• Manage and lead the development of multiple technically complex projects, creating technical plans, timelines, risk assessments, and mitigation plans. Challenge assumptions and identify opportunities to push the boundaries of what's possible.
• This position will support customers as well as our customers teams on-site or at their facilities within North America
• Ensure completion of Product Technical Transfer document, engaging Operations, Quality, Regulatory and Marketing stakeholders to ensure seamless manufacturing scale up
• Structure work streams to ensure technical excellence and deliver projects on time, in full:
  • Characterize ingredient functionality
  • Apply design of experiments and other statistical tools. Skilled in data analysis and making recommendations to stakeholders
  • Formula development
  • Process development
  • Plan all phases of product scale up (bench, pilot, commercial)
  • Sensory science (analytical, affective) studies
  • Contingency planning
  • Identify 3rd party facilities (if applicable) necessary to ensure project success (e.g., pilot trials, co-manufacturing sites)
• Compile, analyze, and manage data and close projects with Product Technical Transfer document to ensure seamless handover to Operations and Quality Control
• Responsible for the product development and innovation activities from bench top to scale-up of formulations in the Baked Goods Food category
• Maintain accurate and detailed records of experiments and observations. Disciplined in keeping Lab Notebook entries accurate and up to date

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• B.S. or M.S. degree in Food Science, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry or related field. Requires 7-10 years industry experience
• Demonstrated leadership with a history of delivering results
• Desire to challenge assumptions and identify new opportunities
• 5+ years of product development experience
• Strong communication, strategic thinking, and organization skills
• Ability to manage multiple projects independently
• Ability to thrive in a business-facing role and represent a strong technical voice
• Strong acumen in business processes
• Experience in the development and launch of baked goods (retail, foodservice, wholesale) such as breads & rolls, gluten free, flatbreads, tortillas, sweet goods (yeast raised, chemically leavened), c-store products, and cereal based (e.g., bars) beyond simple prototype development is required. Must understand the impact of plant processing and be able to design formulations accordingly.
• Experience in product scale-up and commercialization is required.
• Strong understanding of general sensory testing, including its application to product development, is required.
• Proven experience owning responsibility for product launches (consumer, raw materials)
• Ability to partner with broader R&D team, manufacturing plants, and external suppliers

GOOD TO HAVE:

• Sensory: analytical (R&D, Operations) and affective (consumer)
• Statistics: Design of Experiments, Six Sigma
• Global Experience: consumer packaged goods companies, ingredient suppliers, flavor & fragrance suppliers

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING CONDITIONS (WITH OR WITHOUT REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION):

• Travel: 10 - 25%
• Lifting/Carrying: Capable of carrying items 10 lbs. or more
• Capable of conducting work at company facility, third party pilot plants, with potential visits to manufacturing facilities (company owned, third party)

At Ardent Mills, everyone matters and everyone has a voice. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal opportunities are available to all applicants and team members and the decisions will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, aboriginality, ancestry, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, genetic information, veteran status, age, political affiliation, or any other non-merit characteristic protected by law or not. Together, celebrating our differences, we make Ardent Mills.

The preceding position description has been designed to indicate the general nature and essential duties and responsibilities of work performed by employees within this position. It may not contain a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees in this position. The description, duties, functions, and responsibilities are subject to change at the discretion of Ardent Mills.

Location:

Denver CO

Address:

1875 Lawrence Street, Denver CO, 80202

Additional Locations (if applicable):

Employment Type:

Full time

Additional Information:

Competitive Compensation:

We provide market-driven base pay, based on skills, abilities, and level of experiences. Our salary ranges are broad, and individual salary will be market competitive based on a candidate’s unique set of skills and level of experience. The starting range for this position is $86,200.00 - $114,915.90, with additional earning potential possible commensurate with experience. Additionally, we believe that our team members are the reason for our success and all team members are incentive eligible with a target based on contribution, company performance, and individual results achieved. While the specific bonus plan and target amount will be determined based on the role and breadth of contributions, the targeted bonus plan and targeted percentage amount for this role is Bonus - MIP, 10% Annual.

Benefits:

At Ardent Mills we offer a wide range of benefits to our team members and their eligible family members. Some of our great benefit programs you may be eligible for include: • Medical, Dental and Vision Coverage• Health and Dependent Savings Accounts • Life and Disability Programs • Voluntary Benefit Programs • Company Sponsored Wellness Programs • Retirement Savings with Company Match • Team Member and Family Assistance Program (EAP) • Paid Time Off and Paid Holidays • Employee Recognition Program with Rewards (RAVE).

Application Deadline:

07/22/2025

07/22/2025

EEO Commitment:

At Ardent Mills, everyone matters and everyone has a voice. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal opportunities are available to all applicants and team members and the decisions will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, genetic information, veteran status, age, political affiliation, or any other non-merit characteristic protected by law or not. Together, celebrating our differences, we make Ardent Mills. The preceding position description has been designed to indicate the general nature and essential duties and responsibilities of work performed by employees within this position. It may not contain a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees in this position. The description, duties, functions, and responsibilities are subject to change at the discretion of Ardent Mills.

En Ardent Mills, todos importan y todos tienen voz. Estamos comprometidos a brindar un ambiente de respeto mutuo donde haya igualdad de oportunidades disponibles para todos los solicitantes y miembros del equipo y las decisiones se basarán en el mérito, la competencia, el desempeño y las necesidades comerciales. Estamos orgullosos de ser un empleador que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades. No discriminamos por motivos de raza, color, religión, credo, origen nacional, ascendencia, estado civil, sexo, orientación sexual, identidad o expresión de género, discapacidad física o mental, embarazo, información genética, condición de veterano, edad, política. afiliación, o cualquier otra característica no meritoria protegida por ley o no. Juntos, celebrando nuestras diferencias, formamos Ardent Mills. La descripción del puesto anterior ha sido diseñada para indicar la naturaleza general y los deberes y responsabilidades esenciales del trabajo realizado por los empleados dentro de este puesto. Es posible que no contenga un inventario completo de todos los deberes, responsabilidades y calificaciones requeridas de los empleados en este puesto. La descripción, los deberes, las funciones y las responsabilidades están sujetos a cambios a discreción de Ardent Mills.

Recruitment Fraud Disclaimer:

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