Principal Scientist

Rich's, also known as Rich Products Corporation, is a family-owned food company dedicated to inspiring possibilities. From cakes and icings to pizza, appetizers and specialty toppings, our products are used in homes, restaurants and bakeries around the world. Beyond great food, our customers also gain insights to help them stay competitive, no matter their size. Our portfolio includes creative solutions geared at helping food industry professionals compete in foodservice, retail, in-store bakery, deli, and prepared foods, among others. Working in 100 locations globally, with annual sales exceeding $4 billion, Rich's is a global leader with a focus on everything that family makes possible. Rich's—Infinite Possibilities. One Family.

The Principal Scientist – Dairy is a subject matter expert (SME) within the Global Toppings, Creamers, and Culinary Solutions (TCCS) Center of Excellence (COE), as part of the Research, Innovation, and Compliance (RIC) organization. This role will lead cross-functional and cross-regional transformation of dairy UHT, emulsions, and micellar casein platforms to unlock new revenue streams, accelerate time-to-market, and ensure global compliance with food safety and quality standards. The role supports delivering 2030 Vision by leading transformation of dairy technologies and enabling differentiated, scalable product solutions and mentoring global teams.

This role will be based at our WHQ in Buffalo, NY, with expected travel of up to 30% per year.

• Lead strategic initiatives focused on dairy and emulsion-based technologies to design and execute innovative, scalable product solutions that align with global business growth objectives.

• Identify and propose new global platforms and technologies that address evolving consumer needs, sustainability goals, and market dynamics. This includes leveraging expertise in dairy systems, UHT, emulsions, and ingredient functionality to unlock scalable innovation opportunities.

• Monitor global trends and emerging technologies—from alternative dairy sources and clean-label formulations to digital manufacturing and precision fermentation—to inform long-term category strategy and innovation roadmaps.

• Drive cross-functional collaboration with R&D, Engineering, Marketing, and Supply Chain to ensure technical feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and market relevance.

• Collaborate with regional teams to develop and enforce food safety and quality assurance protocols across dairy manufacturing operations, raw milk handling, supplier compliance, and supply chain auditing. Ensure compliance with local regulations (e.g., FSMA, EFSA, GB standards) while maintaining global consistency and safeguarding product integrity.

• Ensure adherence to internal policies and Food Safety, Quality Assurance, and Regulatory (FSQAR) frameworks to proactively mitigate risks and enable successful project execution across regions.

• Monitor and analyze global quality metrics, consumer complaints, and non-conformance trends to drive continuous improvement.

• Lead the development of global standards, ingredient and product specifications, and testing methodologies.

• Develop and implement new product platforms through scientific and technological advancements.

• Conduct patent landscaping and competitive benchmarking to identify white space and protect innovation.

• Lead invention disclosures and patent filings for novel processes, ingredients, and formulations.

• Ensure global IP alignment across joint ventures, external partners, global cross-functional and RIC teams to safeguard Rich Products' innovation pipeline, enhance competitive advantage, and support long-term category growth.

• Provide technical guidance and strategic direction to RIC Innovation teams and Business Units.

• Implement global technical strategies to protect and grow the category.

• Support Merger & Acquisition (M&A) activities through technical due diligence and capability assessments.

• Foster strong partnerships across departments including Marketing, Sales, Operations, and other RIC CoEs.

• Collaborate with Global Science & Technology and Digital teams to explore new perspectives and solutions.

• Represent the organization in external forums to position Rich Products as a global leader in assigned categories.

• Deliver technical training across local markets and support the development of global talent.

• Mentor cross-functional teams in design thinking, agile methodologies, and innovation best practices to accelerate dairy based product development and problem-solving.

• Contribute to organizational design and process improvements that enhance R&D efficiency, collaboration, and technical output.

• Cultivate a culture of creativity, collaboration, and continuous learning across global R&D functions.

• Degree in Dairy Science and Technology, Food Science, Food Engineering, Food Technology, or a related field (e.g., Dairy Chemistry, Food Chemistry).

• Bachelor's degree with 10+ years of industrial/applied research experience.

• Master's degree with 8+ years of industrial/applied research experience.

• Ph.D. with 7+ years of industrial/applied research experience.

• Proven experience in dairy systems, food emulsions, UHT technologies, and ingredient functionality.

• Working knowledge of international food safety regulations and standards (e.g., HACCP, GMP, FSMA, GFSI, ISO).

• Experience with supplier auditing and raw material risk management is preferred.

• Demonstrated progressive technical leadership in R&D, innovation, and product development.

• Strong track record of innovation and commercialization in the food industry.

• Ability to drive organizational change and foster a culture of innovation.

• Senior-level technical leadership within R&D innovation teams.

• Strategic thinker with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Excellent communication and presentation abilities.

• Experience working with global and remote teams.

• Strong business results orientation with a focus on measurable impact.

• Sound decision-making with a balanced approach to risk and opportunity.

COMPENSATION

In accordance with state law, the rate or range provided is Rich Products Corporation, its subsidiaries and affiliates ("Rich's"), reasonable estimate of the base compensation for this role. The actual amount may be higher or lower, based on non-discriminatory factors such as experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, shift differential, and location.

Annual Range/Hourly Rate

$119, $179,417.72

Rich Products Corporation, its subsidiaries and affiliates ("Rich's"), are committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity, standing up for fairness and maintaining a culture of belonging, to provide an exceptional experience for all. We will not discriminate against an applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, military or veteran status, or any other Federal or State legally protected classes. The information collected by this application is solely to determine suitability for employment, verify identity, and maintain employment statistics on applicants.

Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain state or local laws. A reasonable accommodation is a change in the way things are normally done which will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing undue hardship on Rich's. Please contact Rich's Associate Experience Network at  if you need assistance completing this application or to otherwise participate in the application process.