Job description template

Food Scientist Job Description Template

A copy-ready food scientist job description with responsibilities, qualifications, skills and pay guidance: customize it for your company in minutes.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
How to use this template

Copy the template below, replace the bracketed fields and tailor duties to your workplace. For pay, national BLS data shows food scientists earn a median of $88,720 ($42.65/hour); the middle 50% earn $68,810–$116,650.

Job title

Food Scientist

Job summary

[Company name] is seeking a dependable food scientist to join our team in [city, state]. In this role, you will develop products, run sensory tests and support our team’s commitment to safety, quality and service.

Responsibilities

  • Develop products
  • Run sensory tests
  • Test shelf life
  • Ensure food safety
  • Scale recipes
  • Write specs
  • Work with production
  • Follow company policies, safety procedures and applicable regulations

Required qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree
  • Working knowledge of food chemistry and product development
  • Creativity and teamwork
  • [Add role-specific requirements, such as driver’s license or ability to pass a background check, if job-related]

Preferred qualifications

  • CFS
  • PCQI
  • HACCP certification
  • Experience with lab equipment

Skills

  • Sensory testing
  • Food safety
  • Shelf-life testing
  • Scale-up
  • Curiosity
  • Communication

Work environment and schedule

Food scientists work in labs, pilot plants and food factories. Full-time business hours.

Pay and benefits

$[min]–$[max] per [hour/year], depending on experience. [List benefits: health insurance, paid time off, retirement plan, training and certification support.]

Equal opportunity

[Company name] is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law, and we provide reasonable accommodations upon request.

Tips for a food scientist job posting that attracts applicants

  • Use the title candidates search for. “Food Scientist” is the clearest; alternates include Food Technologist, Product Developer, Flavor Chemist.
  • Show the pay range. Postings with pay get more qualified applicants, and a growing number of states and cities require pay ranges in job postings.
  • Separate must-haves from nice-to-haves. Long requirement lists discourage qualified candidates, especially career changers.
  • Describe a real day. Borrow from our day in the life of a food scientist so applicants self-select accurately.
  • Mention training. Highlighting structured onboarding: such as Food Scientist training: widens your applicant pool.

Next steps

Screen and interview with our Food Scientist hiring guide, then onboard with the 30-60-90 day plan.

Team pricing