Associate Principal Meat Scientist - Pet - Golden Valley, MN

JOB OVERVIEW:

Innovation, Technology, and Quality (ITQ) transforms possibilities into reality through science, delivering today and being future-ready for tomorrow. To accelerate Pet segment growth, we are seeking an Associate Principal Meat Scientist to lead technology creation at the interface of meat systems and functional ingredients. This role bridges the science of animal proteins to engineer the texture, flavor, and stability that make pet foods exceptional.

In this role, you will be a technical cornerstone in a multidisciplinary team - collaborating with flavor chemists, analytical scientists, animal nutritionists, process engineers, product development scientists, and the food safety and quality team to turn science into meaningful products.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop and implement strategies to ensure a sustainable supply of high-quality animal protein sources for our meat-rich pet foods and treats.
• Design and characterize meat-based matrices that optimize texture, binding, and water activity in various product matrices.
• Evaluate novel ingredients and technologies to identify opportunities to enhance the quality, palatability, and functionality of our pet food products.
• Design, execute, and analyze pilot plant and plant trials, collecting critical data to inform product development and process improvements.
• Translate laboratory discoveries into scalable formulations for multiple product formats.
• Provide technical support for the successful implementation of developed solutions in commercialized products.
• Establish and maintain rigorous quality control procedures and ingredient specification development for meat ingredients and finished products, ensuring compliance with safety regulations and company standards.
• Remain current on regulatory and scientific advances in meat and functional ingredient science relevant to pet food.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• PhD in Meat Science, Food Science or a related field.
• 5+years of experience in food, pet food, or protein innovation environments.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and teamwork skills.
• Proficiency in data analysis and statistical software.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple projects concurrently, and meet deadlines.
• Advanced strategic thinking, organizational planning, decision-making, and influencing skills.
• Willingness to travel up to 25% of the time

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• 3+ years of experience in the pet food industry is highly preferred.

• Strong understanding of protein denaturation, water binding, and rheological properties in complex meat systems.

• Direct experience in pet food formulation and product development.

• Understanding of the role of animal protein in pet food formulation, including its impact on functionality and nutritional value.

• Experience with sensory evaluation techniques for pet food.

• Familiarity with pet food manufacturing processes, including extrusion, canning, and dry food production.

• Experience in technical mentoring and coaching other team members.

• Demonstrated project management skills with a strong sense of accountability and ownership.

• Solution-oriented mindset with a proactive approach to problem-solving.

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS:

• Applicants for this position must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis, and General Mills will not sponsor applicants for this position for work visas.
• This role is located in Golden Valley, MN and will not consider remote applicants or international applications. General Mills will provide relocation to the candidate selected for this role as long as they meet the relocation assistance policy.

Salary Range

The salary range for this position is $108900.00 - $163500.00 / Annually. At General Mills we strive for each employee's pay at any point in their career to reflect their experiences performance and skills for their current role. The salary range for this role represents the numerous factors considered in the hiring decisions including, but not limited to, educations, skills, work experience, certifications, etc. As such, pay for the successful candidate(s) could fall anywhere within the stated range. Beyond base salary, General Mills offers a competitive Total Rewards package focusing on your overall well-being. We are proud to offer a foundation of health benefits, retirement and financial wellbeing, time off programs, wellbeing support and perks. Benefits may vary by role, country, region, union status, and other employment status factors. You may also be eligible to participate in an annual incentive program. An incentive award, if any, depends on various factors, including, individual and organizational performance.

Reasonable Accommodation Request

If you need to request an accommodation during the application or hiring process, please fill out our online accommodations request form by following this link: Accommodations Request.