Food Innovation & Application Scientist

Food Innovation & Application Scientist

Muscatine, Iowa area

Position Overview

We are seeking a dynamic and passionate Food Innovation & Application Scientist to join our Technical Solutions group on the Innovative Solutions team in Muscatine, Iowa. In this customer-facing role, you will serve as a key technical resource, partnering with commercial teams, customers, and industry stakeholders to demonstrate the value and performance of our ingredients across food, nutraceutical, and personal care applications.

You will play a critical role in translating scientific knowledge into practical solutions, driving business growth through technical consultations, product demonstrations, and hands-on laboratory formulation.

Position Details

• Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (On-site in Muscatine, Iowa)

• Travel: Up to 40% travel required (trade shows, customer visits, and technical seminars)

• Job Status: Direct Hire

• Benefits: Full medical package

• Relocation: Relocation assistance available for qualified candidates

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Customer Support & Collaboration: Provide technical expertise through customer meetings, presentations, virtual consultations, technical reports, and troubleshooting activities. Partner closely with commercial, operations, quality, regulatory, and external teams.

• Formulation & Innovation: Develop and optimize formulations utilizing company ingredients to address customer needs, support innovation initiatives, and drive commercialization.

• Laboratory Experimentation: Design, conduct, and analyze laboratory experiments to evaluate ingredient functionality and performance. Establish testing protocols and validation procedures aligned with industry standards.

• Analysis & Documentation: Evaluate finished product performance using analytical techniques, laboratory instrumentation, and sensory assessments. Generate technical literature, application guides, and accurate laboratory records while ensuring adherence to safety and quality standards.

• Business Development: Support trade shows, technical seminars, customer training programs, and product demonstrations to promote ingredient capabilities.

Education, Experience & Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s or Master of Science degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Microbiology, or a related science-based curriculum is required.

• Experience: 3 to 5 years of relevant industry experience (relevant internships or co-op assignments will be considered).

• Key Skills & Competencies:

• Strong knowledge of food chemistry, organic chemistry, ingredient functionality, and formulation science.

• Extensive hands-on laboratory experience, including operating lab equipment, running analytical techniques, and maintaining safe practices.

• Exceptional customer-facing communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills.

• Proven ability to manage multiple projects and priorities efficiently in a fast-paced environment.

What happens next:

Once you apply, you’ll proceed to next steps if your skills and experience look like a good fit. But don’t worry – even if this position doesn’t work out, you’re still in our network. That means our team of expert Science & Clinical recruiters will have access to your profile, making your opportunities limitless.

#P1

As part of our promise to talent, Kelly supports those who work with us through a variety of benefits, perks, and work-related resources. Kelly offers eligible employees voluntary benefit plans including medical, dental, vision, telemedicine, term life, whole life, accident insurance, critical illness, a legal plan, and short-term disability. As a Kelly employee, you will have access to a retirement savings plan, service bonus and holiday pay plans (earn up to eight paid holidays per benefit year), and a transit spending account. In addition, employees are entitled to earn paid sick leave under the applicable state or local plan. Click here (https://www.mykelly.com/help-support-working-with-kelly-us/#Benefits) for more information on benefits and perks that may be available to you as a member of the Kelly Talent Community.

Why Kelly ® Science & Clinical?

Kelly Science & Clinical is your connection to premier scientific and clinical companies looking to hire industry experts just like you. Our team creates expert talent solutions to solve the world’s most critical challenges. Every day, we match science professionals with dream jobs that fit their skills, interests, and career goals—it’s the way we think job searching should be. Nearly 100 percent of our science recruiters have a professional background and education in science, so we know a thing or two about the science market and how to get your expertise noticed.

About Kelly

Work changes everything. And at Kelly, we’re obsessed with where it can take you. To us, it’s about more than simply accepting your next job opportunity. It’s the fuel that powers every next step of your life. It’s the ripple effect that changes and improves everything for your family, your community, and the world. Which is why, here at Kelly, we are dedicated to providing you with limitless opportunities to enrich your life—just ask the 300,000 people we employ each year.

Kelly is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants regardless of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and we take affirmative action to recruit, employ, and advance qualified individuals with disabilities and protected veterans in the workforce. Requests for accommodation related to our application process can be directed to the Kelly Human Resource Knowledge Center. Kelly complies with the requirements of California’s state and local Fair Chance laws. A conviction does not automatically bar individuals from employment. Kelly participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

Kelly may use AI-powered tools during the recruitment and hiring process. For full details, including how Kelly uses AI, your rights, and how to request a reasonable accommodation, visit the Recruitment Artificial Intelligence Notice (https://www.kellyservices.com/hubfs/myKelly/Resources/Employment\_Policies/Recruitment-Artificial-Intelligence-Notice.pdf?hsLang=en) .

Kelly Services is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We welcome, value, and embrace diversity at all levels and are committed to building a team that is inclusive of a variety of backgrounds, communities, perspectives, and abilities. At Kelly, we believe that the more inclusive we are, the better services we can provide. Requests for accommodation related to our application process can be directed to Kelly’s Human Resource Knowledge Center. Kelly complies with the requirements of California’s state and local Fair Chance laws. A conviction does not automatically bar individuals from employment.