Job Description

From our home in Janesville, Wisconsin , Impact Confections has been delighting candy lovers with bold flavors and timeless favorites for generations. We’re proud to be the makers of WARHEADS® , the iconic sour candy that dares taste buds everywhere, and the classic Melster® Candies , known for nostalgic treats like Circus Peanuts and seasonal delights that families have cherished for decades.

SUMMARY

We are seeking a Senior Food Scientist with 5 years of industry experience to contribute to the development, testing, and optimization of innovative confectionery products. This role combines hands-on work with applied research and development (R&D), offering the opportunity to take ownership of projects and drive product innovation from concept to commercialization. The ideal candidate brings a strong technical foundation in food science, practical experience in product development, and a passion for delivering high-quality, market-ready solutions.

This opportunity offers a dynamic environment where your expertise directly shapes product innovation. Opportunities to lead projects and influence the future of our product portfolio. Professional growth through exposure to multiple aspects of food R&D with competitive compensation and benefits package. This is a hybrid opportunity the employee must be able to work onsite 3-4 days per week.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Product Development & Innovation

• Lead the formulation and development of new food products, from concept through commercialization.
• Independently conduct ingredient research, prototyping, and iterative product improvements.
• Apply sensory and consumer insights to refine product performance and quality.

Laboratory Testing & Analysis

• Design and execute experiments to evaluate product stability, shelf life, and sensory attributes.
• Conduct physical, chemical, and sensory analyses with minimal supervision.
• Interpret and report test results, providing recommendations for technical improvements.

Research & Documentation

• Stay current with emerging food technologies, ingredients, and regulatory developments.
• Prepare and maintain accurate technical documentation, reports, and specifications.
• Present findings to cross-functional teams and provide data-driven recommendations.

Collaboration & Project Leadership

• Partner with Quality, Production, and Marketing to ensure successful scale-up and launch of products.
• Support pilot plant trials and full-scale manufacturing runs.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Strong knowledge of food safety principles, HACCP, and regulatory compliance.
• Experience in scaling formulations from lab to production.
• Excellent organizational, problem-solving, and analytical skills.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to collaborate across cross-functional teams.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

Bachelor’s degree in food science, Food Technology, Chemistry, or related field.

At least 5 years of food industry experience (confectionery experience preferred) demonstrated success in product development and R&D.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

There are no supervisory responsibilities with this role.

COMPUTER SKILLS

Performs basic database updates, queries and searches, and printing of documents/reports.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to communicate with co-workers and/or read instructions or written standards in English.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to perform or learn basic mathematic skills as needed, such as basic accounting terminology.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out basic step instructions. Ability to deal with standardized situations with only occasional or limited variables.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

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