Food Product Development Scientist

Job Title: Entry-Level Nutritionist

Location: Mishawaka, IN

Department: Procurement

Reports to: Quality Manager

Job Type: Full-time

About United Petfood:

United Petfood is a private label producer of high-quality dry & wet pet food, biscuits and snacks. We are a Belgian family business with 25 high-tech pet kitchens in Europe and the US. 

Joining us, means joining an international, passionate and driven team with one common goal: a healthy planet filled with healthy pets! But it doesn’t stop there: we truly care about building encouraging, supportive, long-lasting partnerships, both inside as well as outside of our fast-growing family company. By only working with the very best ingredients and most innovative technology available, we ensure a spot in which you can grow, bloom and make thousands of pets happy worldwide!

Job Summary:

We are looking for a motivated and enthusiastic Entry-Level Nutritionist to join our team. This individual will support the development and implementation of nutrition programs and strategies, with a focus on optimizing the health and performance of pets. The ideal candidate will have a keen interest in the feed industry and possess a solid foundation in nutritional science.

Key Responsibilities:

• Nutritional Analysis: Assist in analyzing and evaluating the nutritional content of feed ingredients and formulations to ensure they meet the required standards.
• Product Development: Support the development of new pet food products and formulations, ensuring they are nutritionally balanced and meet market demands as well as AAFCO regulations. 
• Research and Data Collection: Conduct research on nutritional trends, new ingredients, and innovations in the pet food industry. Collect and analyze data to support nutrition projects.
• Quality Control: Assist in the monitoring and evaluation of pet food quality to ensure compliance with nutritional standards and regulatory requirements.
• Technical Support: Provide technical support to sales and marketing teams by preparing nutritional information and answering customer queries.
• Documentation and Reporting: Maintain accurate records of nutritional data, formulations, and research findings. Prepare reports and presentations as required.
• Collaboration: Work closely with other departments, including production, and quality assurance, to support the implementation of nutrition programs and initiatives.
• Field Support: Participate in field visits and trials to monitor the performance of pet food products and gather feedback from customers and stakeholders.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Animal Nutrition, Animal Science, Food Science, or a related field.
• Basic understanding of animal nutrition principles and feed formulation.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Preferred Skills:

• Experience or internship in the feed or pet food industry.
• Familiarity with pet food formulation software.
• Knowledge of pet food manufacturing processes and quality control standards.
• Understanding of regulatory requirements related to animal feed.
• Strong interest in ongoing learning and professional development in the field of animal nutrition.

Working Conditions:

• Full-time position with occasional travel to production facilities, research sites, and customer locations.
• Work primarily in an office setting with some fieldwork and laboratory activities.

Equal Opportunity Employer: United Petfood Producers USA Inc. is an equal opportunity workplace. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.