Senior R&D Food Technologist

Overview

Shearer's Foods, founded in 1974 and headquartered in Massillon, OH, is a leading manufacturer of salty snacks, cookies, and crackers. Specializing in private label and co-manufacturing, Shearer's is the largest supplier of private brand salty snacks and second-largest supplier of private brand cookies and crackers.

With a strong focus on innovation, service, quality, and sustainability, Shearer's has been awarded the food industry's highest award for environmental sustainability, as well as multiple Supplier of the Year awards.

Operating 16 locations across North America and employing more than 5000 team members, Shearer's is driven by its core values of People, Grow, Impact and Win. The company mission is to deliver exceptional products and services that make snacking a time to celebrate for our customers, colleagues, and community.

At Shearer's Foods, we believe in a skills-first approach to recruitment and employment. This means focusing on what you can do and how you can grow, rather than traditional metrics alone. We are committed to adhering to anti-exclusion practices, removing barriers to access, and enhancing opportunities for all individuals based on merit and potential. Your skills, experience, and perspective are valuable-and we want to empower you to make your mark here with us.

Sr. R&D Food Technologist

Massillon, OH (Hybrid)

Shearer's Foods is seeking an experienced Senior Food Technologist to join our solutions-driven R&D team. This role combines advanced technical expertise in food science with leadership in product development and commercialization. The successful candidate will lead and support the development of new salty snack flavors and seasonings, oversee junior staff, and collaborate with vendors and cross-functional teams to bring innovative, high-quality products to market.

This position plays a critical role in enabling Shearer's Value Creation Plan by driving innovation, process optimization, and product excellence.

• Lead seasoning and product development from concept to commercialization ensuring compliance with safety, regulatory, and quality standards.
• Provide technical knowledge, direction, and leadership across product formulation, seasoning optimization, and process improvement initiatives.
• Partner with cross-functional teams-including Manufacturing, Commercialization, Procurement, Quality, and Vendors-to deliver innovation and value.
• Develop, plan, and manage multiple projects simultaneously across customers and categories, ensuring timely and successful execution through Stage-Gate governance.
• Conduct plant trials to evaluate and optimize new products, ingredients, and processes, including pre-, during-, and post-trial reviews.
• Execute analytical testing and shelf-life studies to ensure product performance, stability, and compliance with labeling and regulatory standards.
• Lead and support sensory evaluations, internal panels, and consumer testing to guide formulation decisions.
• Identify and deliver product cost savings, ingredient substitutions, or manufacturing efficiencies without compromising taste or quality.
• Leverage Trace Gains and Genesis (or similar) systems to manage ingredient specifications, nutritional data, and quality attributes.
• Collaborate with sourcing teams to identify suppliers, evaluate new technologies, and ensure business continuity for critical ingredients.
• Coach and mentor junior technologists, providing technical and professional development support.

• Contribute to Shearer's Value Creation Plan (VCP) by enabling growth through innovation, health-forward formulation, and flavor expansion.
  
  * Translate consumer and market trends into actionable product opportunities that strengthen Shearer's leadership in the private label and co-manufacturing space.
  
  * Lead continuous improvement projects that advance Shearer's technical capabilities and product quality standards.

What you Bring to the Table:

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science or related discipline required;
  Master's preferred.
• 7-10 years of experience in food product development, preferably in snack or CPG manufacturing.
• Expert knowledge of ingredient functionality, food safety, product formulation, and sensory evaluation.
• Proficiency with Trace Gains and Genesis or similar nutritional labeling systems.
• Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional product development projects within a Stage-Gate process.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and project management skills with ability to influence across technical and commercial functions.
• Experience mentoring or supervising technical team members.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teams).
• Willingness to travel up to 10% for plant trials, supplier visits, and customer collaboration.

This role is a critical bridge between science and commercialization-turning concepts into consumer-ready snacks that deliver on taste, quality, and business value.

We are an…