Job Information
Hy-Vee Food Stores Food Scientist, Research and Development Supervisor in West Des Moines, Iowa
Additional Considerations (if any):
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At Hy-Vee our people are our strength. We promise “a helpful smile in every aisle” and those smiles can only come from a workforce that is fully engaged and committed to supporting our customers and each other.
Job Description:
Job Title: Food Scientist, Research and Development Supervisor
Location: Hy-Vee Training & Education Center
FLSA: Hourly
Revision Date: 08/2025
General Function:
The Food Scientist, R&D Supervisor supports the Technical Director by leading daily R&D activities, with primary focus on product development and reformulation (40%). Additional responsibilities include compliance and food safety (25%), team leadership (15%), administration and reporting (10%), and operational support (10%), ensuring products meet cost, quality, regulatory, and consumer expectations.
Reporting Relations:
Accountable and Reports to: Technical Director, Compliance and Food Protection
Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
R&D Innovation
Lead reformulation of existing products and assist creation of new products to achieve cost, nutrition, and labeling objectives (e.g., cost optimization, sodium and sugar reduction, clean label).
Manage all stages of the R&D process including concept development, formulation, supplier qualification, benchtop testing, scale-up, and commercialization.
Collaborate with supply chain and retail leadership partners to optimize production processes for scalability, cost, quality, and product integrity.
Support start-up and launch of new and optimized products.
Supervise and participate in benchtop trials and sensory panels, ensuring process validation, ingredient evaluation, labeling accuracy, food safety, and logistics.
Provide culinary and technical expertise during development and commercialization, including consulting, assisting with creation of training materials, and coaching retail department personnel.
Regulatory & Quality
Partner with labeling to ensure compliance in nutrition analysis, allergen management, ingredient audits, and regulatory verification.
Supervise sensory testing of new products, ingredients, and packaging.
Maintain and distribute product specifications for Hy-Vee Foods products.
Oversee ingredient sourcing, auditing, and qualification of new and secondary suppliers.
Support procurement with onboarding of products, vendors, and suppliers.
Team Leadership & Development
Foster a culture of food safety, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Manage schedules, assignments, and priorities for Food Scientists.
Train, supervise, and mentor team members.
Administration & Reporting
Ensure accurate recordkeeping of formulas, procedures, yields, and production notes.
Provide weekly project status reports to management.
Secondary Duties and Responsibilities:
Operational Support
Assist retail operations as needed.
Maintain ingredient records and related documentation.
Assist with special projects and cross-department initiatives, as assigned.
Facilities & Equipment
Maintain R&D kitchens and storage areas to company standards of cleanliness and safety.
Assist with upkeep of R&D equipment and tools.
Skills and Abilities Required to Perform Job:
Technical Expertise
Strong knowledge of food manufacturing, distribution, safety programs, and sanitation standards.
Familiarity with USDA/FDA regulations, nutrition labeling, and compliance requirements.
Comprehensive experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Leadership & Collaboration
Proven supervisory and mentoring skills.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate across teams with an emphasis on making technical information understandable to diverse audiences in a practical manner.
Skilled at planning, prioritizing, and executing multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
Attention to Detail & Compliance
Accuracy in recordkeeping and regulatory documentation.
Ability to manage confidential information with discretion.
Education and Experience:
Bachelor’s degree in Food Science or related field required
4-6 years of experience in food manufacturing, retail food operations, or product development with success scaling from benchtop to commercialization.
Strong knowledge of FDA/USDA regulations, food safety standards, and nutrition labeling.
Physical Requirements:
Ability to perform light work, occasionally lifting up to 20 lbs.
Visual requirements: near and far vision, depth perception, color vision, and field of vision (with or without correction).
Ability to climb, balance, stoop, kneel, reach, stand, walk, push, pull, lift, grasp, talk, hear, and perform repetitive motions.
Working Conditions:
Primarily office or laboratory (climate-controlled) environment
Occasional work in manufacturing and warehouse settings, including occasional travel
Frequent deadlines while managing multiple priorities.
Equipment Used to Perform Job:
Computer, tablet, photocopier, phone system.
Food preparation and production equipment in test kitchens and retail environments.
Are you ready to smile, apply today.
Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre employment drug screen.