R&D Associate Scientist

Welcome to Daiya Foods, where we are reimagining comfort foods that are irresistible and better for you. Today, as dairy-free food grows in popularity, that spirit of innovation continues to inspire our team. Our diverse portfolio of great tasting foods invites everyone to the table.

Our dedication to minimizing environmental impact extends across our operations. We operate in a manufacturing facility and office that is LEED certified, embodying our commitment to sustainability through the leadership in energy and environmental design principles.

Join our team of food-loving Daiyans, where our shared passion, vision, and ability to bring smiles to each other's faces fuel our journey of dairy-free exploration.

SUMMARY

​​The R&D Associate Scientist is a self-motivated, curious, and collaborative individual focused on developing products and technical solutions across our diverse product categories. This role primarily supports the Core and Technical Services teams by supporting and executing technical work from ideation through commercialization for innovation, renovation, value engineering, and process optimization initiatives. The successful candidate will demonstrate agility and a willingness to contribute across multiple R&D functions and teams as business priorities evolve.​

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support the development and commercialization of products and technical solutions across innovation and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Perform technical research and development activities across multiple projects to enhance product performance, quality, operational efficiency, and cost competitiveness.
• Research emerging technologies, ingredients, manufacturing processes, and industry trends to identify opportunities that support business growth and strategic objectives; participates in ideation and technical feasibility assessments for new projects.
• Modify and optimize existing formulations and manufacturing processes at benchtop, pilot plant, and commercial scales to achieve technical, sensory, operational, and financial targets.
• Design, perform and analyze experiments to test ingredients, formulations and processes, and develop prototypes and products; includes sourcing and evaluating ingredients and packaging from external suppliers.
• Support plant trials, production start-ups, commercialization activities, and operational troubleshooting at internal manufacturing facilities and co-manufacturing partners.
• Contribute to ingredient and supplier evaluations, including sourcing, testing, technical assessments, and validation of alternative materials or technologies.
• Assist in the development, review, and maintenance of technical documentation, including formulations, specifications, reports, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Demonstrate flexibility to contribute across multiple R&D teams, product categories, and business priorities as needed.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• ​​Bachelor’s degree of Science or Engineering in Food Science, Process Engineering, etc. and one (1) year of related experience in a Research & Development team, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience. ​
• Experience with working in a food manufacturing industry is an asset.

RELATED SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES

• ​​Basic knowledge and hands-on technical skills of product development process, ingredient functionality & applications, and food processing & manufacturing. ​
• Demonstrated critical thinking, troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to create and deliver timely, impactful written and verbal communication for internal and external audiences.
• Proficient in data analysis and interpretation skills to gather meaningful results.
• Effective at planning and prioritizing work with multiple deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and build effective working relationships with cross-functional teams and external stakeholders.
• Proactively seek out opportunities to learn or develop new capabilities. 
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook and SharePoint).

DAIYA'S CORE COMPETENCIES

• Emotional Intelligence – You possess the ability to manage emotions, as well as seek to understand the emotions of others around you.
• Growth Mindset – You find opportunities and possibilities when challenged, embrace continuous learning, and constantly strive to grow and improve.
• Effective Communication – You effectively listen, assess, and adjust your communication to align your intention and impact.
• Collaboration – You work with and through others to create great results for Daiya.
• Driving Results – You take the initiative to find solutions, deliver results, maintain focus, and drive accountability.
• Service Excellence – You understand and serve the needs of others (Daiyans, consumers, and our communities)

Daiya’s compensation offerings are based on a pay-for-performance philosophy. The pay range for this position is from $40,000–$45,000 annually; the base pay offered is based on market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and internal equity. At Daiya, investing in our people is a top priority. We believe in building a flexible, hybrid model to make work-life harmony a reality. We strive to build diverse and high performing teams and empower continuous learning to grow and improve ourselves.

• 3 weeks’ vacation
• Flex Days
• Extended health benefits
• Retirement savings matching program
• Flexible spending account
• Fun and creative environment
• On-site fitness studio
• Inspiring and innovative work
• Making people and the planet a healthier place

At Daiya Foods, we are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable work environment, one in which employees can bring their whole selves to work everyday.  We welcome and celebrate differences because we believe a multitude of perspectives fosters innovation and will help us achieve our vision.

Daiya Foods is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) and prohibits discrimination of any kind.  We are committed to building a representative workforce and encourage applications reflecting diversity of sex, sexual orientation, gender identify or expression, racialization or ancestry, disability, religion, marital or family status, age and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.  We endeavor to recruit, develop, and retain the best talent from a diverse candidate pool and truly believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion among our team members is vital to our success as a company.  We trust that in applying for a role with us you value this as well!

Daiya Foods humbly acknowledges that the land on which we work, live, and play is the unceded traditional territory of the Coast Salish peoples, including the Tsleil-Waututh, Squamish, and Musqueam Nations. This connection to the land is not only a source of inspiration but also a guiding force in our journey towards greater environmental stewardship and community engagement.