Fonterra Looking for Research Technologist at Palmerston North, Wanganui-Manawatu, New Zealand Full Time

• 2 X Research Technologist opportunities based in our Dairy Foods team
• Drive innovation as part of our close-knit team at FRDC

About us

We are a proud New Zealand Co-operative built by generations of farming whānau. We believe nutritious food is essential to sustain people today, and for future generations to thrive, which is why we challenge ourselves to find new ways to bring our dairy goodness to people around the world.

At our Research and Development Centre in Palmerston North, we know the smallest things can make a difference, so we research and develop products that last longer, stretch further, work faster, waste less, withstand more and taste better. Bringing together world class dairy products and the deep expertise of our people we work alongside the passionate, talented and innovative food professionals who are driving dairy industry and innovation.

About the opportunity

Based in Palmerston North, in our Research and Development Centre (FRDC), the Dairy Foods team, comprising of Cream Products and Cheese Foods Application teams, are the leading innovation experts who create inspiring cheese, butter and cream products from the goodness of dairy.

With a specific focus on Creams and Cheese, these are great opportunities to be directly involved in Fonterra’s fastest growing product category. You’ll be part of a high performing team that uses advanced technology and cutting-edge science to create customer solutions.

You will provide technical leadership to develop new products through formulation, processing and applications at bench and pilot-plant scales. You’ll work in Food/Chemical Labs and pilot plant, and carry out analyses, storage trials, functionality and key application testing, sensory evaluation and experimental trials.

Key responsibilities include:

• Engage across business units and apply expertise across a range of dairy products including creams, cream cheese, milk fats and cheese products
• Deliver new product development and business support project outputs
• Provide technical leadership through breadth, depth and currency of theoretical expertise
• Deliver timely, self-critiqued quality research outputs independently and through teams according to prioritised business needs
• Mentor and guide Technical Officers/Technicians within the team to ensure efficient and effective service to a range of stakeholders
• Maintain subject matter expertise and awareness of Fonterra’s R&D activities, manufacturing processes and customer applications

About you

You’re a passionate and innovative dairy researcher who thrives on developing new solutions for our consumers and customers. With robust expertise, and previous research and development experience, you will hit the ground from day one.

In addition, to a tertiary qualification in food science, chemistry, technology or engineering, you will have:

• Experience and knowledge of designing formulations and an understanding of the solutions required to deliver new products.
• Ability to review existing knowledge, assess gaps and design experiments and trials to address key questions around processing and performance
• The ability to be part of project teams, providing expert technical and product guidance
• Confidence and excellent communication skills to present to all levels of the business
• A willing-to-go-extra-mile attitude coupled with the ability to work independently and be part of complex cross-functional project teams.

Our Co-operative is a place where everyone can be themselves, feel empowered to do their best.

Sound good to you? Come join our whānau. You, me, Us Together Tᾱtou tᾱtou.