Food Scientist (53825)

For more than 35 years, Turtle Island Foods (d.b.a. The Tofurky Company) has been producing the friendliest food on the plate for plant-eaters, meat-eaters, and people who resist labels. Our mission is to make great food everyone can enjoy, and we do it with respect for people, animals, and the planet. We carry out our mission by getting every bacon-chomping, barbecue-loving eater out there to see the wisdom of a plant-based diet by talking about what everyone wants to talk about: the food that makes them happy! Today, The Tofurky Company, a subsidiary of Morinaga Nutritional Foods, Inc., offers yumminess in over 35 products at over 25,000 grocery stores with our plant-based protein, Tofurky, and our dairy-free Moocho cheese.

At Tofurky, we may not all have the same beliefs about diet, sustainability, or what goes best with french fries. We’re not a monoculture (and we like it that way). But we can all get behind our mission of respect – whether it’s respect for our shared planet, for all species, for human health, or for our community and workforce. We are sure of one thing: people, animals, and the environment matter more than profit margins.

Tofurky is seeking a Food Scientist to join our team. This talented and experienced professional will play a crucial role in innovating and improving our range of plant-based meat and dairy-free products. Reporting to the Vice President of R&D, the Senior Food Scientist will lead multiple projects in parallel, ensuring they align with our brand strategy and New Product Development pipeline outlook. Key responsibilities include assessing and developing products for optimized nutritional value, flavor, aroma, texture, and appearance. This role will require careful attention to detail, a collaborative mindset, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, startup-like environment.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the creation and maintenance of nutritional and ingredient specifications for Tofurky's products.
• Lead in-house trials, analyze reports, and make strategic recommendations for product improvements.
• Lead the development of product formulations, processing procedures, and quality parameters.
• Collaborate with operations, maintenance, and QA teams to drive continuous improvement in product quality and manufacturing processes.
• Implement cost-effective approaches and innovative solutions to minimize waste and optimize production efficiency.
• Demonstrate strong leadership and problem-solving skills in managing multiple projects simultaneously.
• Foster a positive, collaborative work environment that encourages innovation and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with external suppliers, vendors, and third-party partners to source ingredients, evaluate prototypes, and conduct shelf-life studies.
• 10-20% travel
  
  

Working Location: This role is located in Hood River, OR. Relocation assistance is available for this position.

What Skills And Education You’ll Need

• Bachelor’s Degree in Food Science (or related) plus 4 years of experience in food product development OR Master’s Degree plus 2 years of experience
• Proven track record of successfully developing and commercializing multiple food products.
• Experience with gluten-based or alternative protein products is preferred.
• Experience with the design of experiments is preferred.
• Extensive experience with food formulation, sensory evaluation and analysis, and manufacturing.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively in a team and lead cross-functional projects.
• Comfortable working in a small team and a fast-paced, startup-like environment.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, prioritize, and complete tasks effectively and efficiently.
  
  

What We’ll Do

We know you’re valuable, and we’ll work hard to keep you challenged. The qualified candidate will receive:

• Competitive salary, dependent on experience.
• 100% employer-paid comprehensive medical and vision coverage, 80% employer-paid dental benefits.
• Auto-enrollment and eligibility for Tofurky’s 401K contribution + match.
• Employer-paid Term Life Insurance, Short-Term, and Long-Term Disability Insurance.
• Company-paid Personal Time Off and Holiday time.
  
  

At Tofurky, we don’t all have exactly the same beliefs about diet, sustainability, or what goes best with french fries. We’re not a monoculture (and we like it that way). But we can all get behind our mission of respect, whether it’s respect for our shared planet, for all species, for human health, or for our community and workforce.

The Tofurky Company does not currently support immigration processing or provide Visa sponsorship. All applicants must be able to provide legal proof of their eligibility to work in the U.S.

The Tofurky Company values a diverse workforce. Women, people of color, people with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQ community are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Tofurky Company provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, The Tofurky Company complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location where the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.