Lead the creation of innovative savoury snack products from concept to commercial production while ensuring quality and regulatory standards are met.
Position Title: Senior Food Scientist
Position Type: Regular - Full-Time
Position Location: Melbourne
Requisition ID: 37084
In every role, McCainers are ambitious, curious, and passionate about creating exceptional work experiences - together. With a customer-first mindset, we make doing business with McCain easy.
About the role.
Are you a flavour innovator with a passion for product development? We're looking for a Senior Food Scientist to lead the creation and development of innovative savoury snack products for the Australian and New Zealand markets.
In this role, you'll bring new product ideas to life - from concept and recipe development through to factory trials and commercial production. You'll work closely with cross-functional teams and external partners to ensure each product meets consumer expectations while also hitting cost, quality, and scale-up targets.
If you're someone who blends creativity with technical expertise, and thrives in a fast-paced, hands-on environment, this is your chance to make a big impact.
This role can be based in Ballarat or Melbourne, with frequent travel required between sites to support operations and key initiatives.
What you'll be doing.
What you'll need to be successful.
About the team.
This role reports to the R&D Core Portfolio Manager, and can be based in either Melbourne or Ballarat with frequent travel between the two locations. Occasional travel to our other ANZ manufacturing sites is also required.
About McCain.
Click Here to learn more about McCain and how we provide you with opportunities to make an impact that matters.
Leadership principles.
At McCain, our leadership principles guide how we engage with customers, collaborate as a team, and achieve success. We focus on understanding customer needs, driving innovation, empowering people, and taking ownership to clear obstacles and deliver results.
The McCain experience.
We are McCain. This statement is a testament to our collective strength and our individual value. Your contributions play a vital role in our success. Our winning culture is rooted in authenticity and trust, empowering us to bring out the best in one another. Here, you'll find opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive. Join us and experience why we're better together.
#LI-IT1
McCain Foods is an equal opportunity employer. As a global family-owned company, we strive to be the employer of choice in the diverse communities around the world in which we live and work. We recognize that inclusion drives our creativity, resilience, and success and makes our business stronger. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.
McCain is an accessible employer. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials or accessible meeting rooms), please let us know and we will work with you to find appropriate solutions.
Your privacy is important to us. By submitting personal data or information to us, you agree this will be handled in accordance with McCain's Global Privacy Policy and Global Employee Privacy Policy , as applicable. You can understand how your personal information is being handled here .
Job Family: Research & Development
Division: Global Research and Development
Department: Core Product Portfolio
Location(s): AU - Australia : Victoria : Melbourne || AU - Australia : Victoria : Ballarat
Company: McCain Foods (Aust) Pty.
Position Type: Regular - Full-Time
Position Location: Melbourne
Requisition ID: 37084
In every role, McCainers are ambitious, curious, and passionate about creating exceptional work experiences - together. With a customer-first mindset, we make doing business with McCain easy.
About the role.
Are you a flavour innovator with a passion for product development? We're looking for a Senior Food Scientist to lead the creation and development of innovative savoury snack products for the Australian and New Zealand markets.
In this role, you'll bring new product ideas to life - from concept and recipe development through to factory trials and commercial production. You'll work closely with cross-functional teams and external partners to ensure each product meets consumer expectations while also hitting cost, quality, and scale-up targets.
If you're someone who blends creativity with technical expertise, and thrives in a fast-paced, hands-on environment, this is your chance to make a big impact.
This role can be based in Ballarat or Melbourne, with frequent travel required between sites to support operations and key initiatives.
What you'll be doing.
- Leading product innovation and renovation projects from idea to launch.
- Translating consumer trends and insights into great-tasting, commercially viable products.
- Working cross-functionally with R&D, Marketing, Quality, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain to ensure smooth project delivery.
- Conducting hands-on product development, including lab work and factory trials.
- Ensuring product designs meet food safety, nutrition, and regulatory standards (including FSANZ).
- Staying on top of ingredient and technology trends, bringing fresh thinking to the innovation pipeline.
- Contributing to a strong team culture by sharing knowledge, supporting others, and helping drive continuous improvement.
- Keeping stakeholders, including the R&D Director, updated on project progress and timelines.
What you'll need to be successful.
- A degree in Food Science or a related scientific discipline (Bachelor's or Master's).
- 5+ years' experience in food product development, ideally in a commercially driven environment.
- Hands-on experience with savoury products, particularly in batter and coatings technology.
- A solid understanding of HACCP, FSANZ standards, and nutritional and regulatory frameworks.
- Strong technical and project management skills - you can juggle multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
- Confidence working in both bench and factory settings, with experience running trials and scale-ups.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
- A collaborative, proactive, and curious mindset with a drive to find solutions and innovate.
About the team.
This role reports to the R&D Core Portfolio Manager, and can be based in either Melbourne or Ballarat with frequent travel between the two locations. Occasional travel to our other ANZ manufacturing sites is also required.
About McCain.
Click Here to learn more about McCain and how we provide you with opportunities to make an impact that matters.
Leadership principles.
At McCain, our leadership principles guide how we engage with customers, collaborate as a team, and achieve success. We focus on understanding customer needs, driving innovation, empowering people, and taking ownership to clear obstacles and deliver results.
The McCain experience.
We are McCain. This statement is a testament to our collective strength and our individual value. Your contributions play a vital role in our success. Our winning culture is rooted in authenticity and trust, empowering us to bring out the best in one another. Here, you'll find opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive. Join us and experience why we're better together.
#LI-IT1
McCain Foods is an equal opportunity employer. As a global family-owned company, we strive to be the employer of choice in the diverse communities around the world in which we live and work. We recognize that inclusion drives our creativity, resilience, and success and makes our business stronger. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.
McCain is an accessible employer. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials or accessible meeting rooms), please let us know and we will work with you to find appropriate solutions.
Your privacy is important to us. By submitting personal data or information to us, you agree this will be handled in accordance with McCain's Global Privacy Policy and Global Employee Privacy Policy , as applicable. You can understand how your personal information is being handled here .
Job Family: Research & Development
Division: Global Research and Development
Department: Core Product Portfolio
Location(s): AU - Australia : Victoria : Melbourne || AU - Australia : Victoria : Ballarat
Company: McCain Foods (Aust) Pty.
Top Skills
Fsanz Standards
Haccp
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