Sr. R&D Scientist in Sauget, Illinois at Branding Iron Holdings

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.