Senior Scientist

About Kerry

About the role

The Senior Scientist / Research Scientist will be a key member of the Applications Team, providing scientific and technical leadership to support food applications using Kerry’s foundational technologies. This role is highly hands-on and customer-focused, supporting projects from customer’s concept development through a customer’s launch, while delivering innovative, high quality taste and nutrition solutions.
The ideal candidate brings strong technical expertise, application knowledge, and the ability to work independently in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Key responsibilities

1.    Independently deliver on application projects using strong scientific and technical expertise
2.    Demonstrate in‑depth understanding of food applications, formulation, and production capabilities
3.    Conduct research to develop new and improved food products, methods, and systems
4.    Study and improve food quality attributes such as flavor, color, texture, nutritional value, convenience, and physical, chemical, and microbiological properties
5.    Develop applications utilizing Kerry’s foundational technologies 
6.    Work hands-on in the lab and pilot plant 
7.    Optimize formulations to meet performance, cost, and customer requirements 
8.    Develop market relevant and process-oriented gold standard formulations in collaboration with Culinary and subject matter experts (SMEs) 
9.    Understand competitive products and the market landscape to inform development decisions
10.    Serve as a strong customer-facing technical partner, supporting both internal and external customer requests 
11.    Support projects from concept through customer’s commercialization, including: 
•    Ideation and brainstorming
•    Execution of internal development processes
•    Understanding and troubleshooting customer manufacturing processes
12.    Coordinate closely with Sales and Culinary teams during customer interactions, including technical and culinary presentations 
13.    Work directly with customers to resolve technical challenges and provide solutions

Qualifications and skills

•    Bachelor’s degree required; in Food Science, Culinology, Chemistry, Nutrition, or a related field 
•    Experience level commensurate with Research Scientist or Senior Scientist designation 
•    Hands on experience in food formulation, applications, or product development preferred
•    Must be able to taste and smell chemicals, flavors, and food products 
•    Must be able to stand for extended periods in a laboratory or pilot plant setting 
•    Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds 
•    Willingness to travel to Kerry sites and customer locations as needed.

The pay range for this position is $75,602 - $123,432 in Annual Salary.  Kerry typically does not hire an individual at the top or near the top of the range, as we are a pay-for-performance company, and this range is set to continue to reward performance annually while in role.  Compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.  The specific compensation offered to a candidate within the above range may be influenced by a variety of factors including skills, qualifications, experience, and internal equity.  Kerry offers a competitive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, paid time off, a 401(k) plan with employee and company contribution opportunities, Employee Share Plan, Life, disability, and accident insurance, and tuition reimbursement.  This job posting is anticipated to expire on June 30th, 2026.