R&D/Application Specialist – Dairy & Beverage Position: R&D/Application Specialist – Dairy & Beverage Location: Oakville, Ontario (full‑time, on‑site) Status: Contractual – until December 31, 2026 (replacement) We are recruiting an experienced and highly motivated R&D/Application Specialist with dairy expertise to support our Food & Nutrition business on a contract basis (current to December 31, 2026). Reporting to the Innovation/R&D Manager, the candidate will be the lead for R&D activities related to the dairy industry and beverage, with a dotted line to the Business Segment Manager – Dairy & Beverage. The role supports our commercial team to achieve accelerated business growth through next‑level customer experience and innovation. Responsibilities include developing innovative value‑added ingredient blends for dairy & beverage applications, ensuring commercial requirements are met or exceeded, and creating concepts to showcase ingredient solutions and technical expertise. Ideal Candidate You have proven analytical, research and development experience and apply those skills to solving technical challenges You are a top‑notch formulator and you understand food microbiology principles You are passionate about food, food ingredients and the food industry You have a curious mind and seek to understand and solve problems You have excellent computer skills and are well versed in the MS Office Suite and Genesis Nutritional software You are innovative in your thinking and ideas and have a creative spirit You are a clear communicator and relationship builder You are comfortable presenting to audiences both small and large, in a dynamic and engaging manner You work well with other cross‑functional teams (Sales, QA, Operations, Marketing, etc.) Key Responsibilities Lead all new product development for manufactured blends within the dairy & beverage segment, including product improvement, meeting or exceeding commercial requirements Create great tasting, on‑trend prototypes/concepts that will be used as sales tools to promote Quadra’s ingredients and blending capabilities to generate new opportunities Contribute to the maintenance of the R&D laboratory including managing ingredient inventory, finished product samples, and ensuring Good Laboratory/Manufacturing Practices are employed. Support the management of the R&D pilot plant equipment, ensuring all equipment are operated, cleaned and serviced to enable scale‑up development activities Keep abreast of emerging market trends and technology advancement in the industry to facilitate continuous improvement Attend key tradeshows, supporting the promotion of our ingredients and services, or as an attendee exploring what is new and interesting in the industry, as required Support the sales team with customer joint calls and presentations, serving as one of our domain experts during meetings with customers Contribute to all technical documentation related to projects and product development including product specifications, nutritional tables, labels and Bills of Material Provide technical support to operations to assist with troubleshooting and problem‑solving Qualifications Bachelor or Masters degree in Food Science or equivalent experience Minimum 3 years of experience in dairy formulation and processing Demonstrated value creation and delivery of application projects on time and in budget Comprehensive knowledge of ingredients: proteins, starches, hydrocolloids, acidulants, oils and fats Strong organizational, multitasking, analytical and critical thinking skills Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to connect easily with internal and external business partners Exceptional time management, prioritization and problem‑solving skills along with the ability to thrive in a team or independently High level of self‑motivation with ability to take initiative Proficient in Microsoft Office, knowledge of Genesis SQL an asset Strong knowledge of HACCP, GFSI, Food Safety and Good Laboratory Practices Benefits At Quadra, we offer a collaborative, family‑oriented, and supportive work environment with autonomy and flexibility. We are certified as a Great Place to Work® and recognized as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies. You will be part of a professional, dynamic, innovative, and committed team. Compensation The annual base pay range for this position is reasonably expected to be $61,200.00 to $91,800.00. EEO Statement Quadra supports and values diversity and offers equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status and gender identity. Quadra also welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. We recognize that some people do not identify themselves as either male or female; therefore, whenever possible, we have opted for a gender‑neutral wording in a non‑discriminatory spirit. #J-18808-Ljbffr