Senior Food Safety Scientist (Ph.D. or M.S.)

About Exponent

Exponent is the only premium engineering and scientific consulting firm with the depth and breadth of expertise to solve our clients’ most profoundly unique, unprecedented, and urgent challenges.

Our vision is to engage multidisciplinary teams of science, engineering, and regulatory experts to empower clients with solutions that create a safer, healthier, more sustainable world. For over five decades, we've connected the lessons of past failures with tomorrow's solutions to advise clients as they innovate technologically complex products and processes, ensure the safety and health of their users, and address the challenges of sustainability.

Join our team of experts with degrees from top programs at over 500 universities and extensive experience spanning a variety of industries. At Exponent, you’ll contribute to the diverse pool of ideas, talents, backgrounds, and experiences that drives our collaborative teamwork and breakthrough insights. Plus, we help you grow your career through mentoring, sponsorship, and a culture of learning. Thanks for your interest in joining our team!

Key statistics:

950+ Consultants

640+ Ph.D.s

90+ Disciplines

30+ Offices globally

Our Opportunity

We are currently seeking a Senior Food Safety Scientist for a Senior Managing Scientist position in our Chemical Regulation and Food Safety Practice in Washington, DC. Other locations will also be considered. In this role, you will work as part of a team that is focused on assisting clients to ensure food safety across the entire food production, processing, distribution, and retail/food service continuum. You will use your training, experience and skills to assist our clients with (1) pre- and post- market analysis of chemical, biological, and physical hazards and food safety preventive controls for supply chains, food ingredients, processing procedures, and the production environment, (2) regulatory compliance and industry best practices for food, beverages, and nutritional products, (3) root-cause analyses of product specification excursions, contamination or failures, and (4) outbreak investigations, including epidemiology, traceability and traceback, and laboratory analysis. Our client base spans industry, trade associations, regulatory and litigation attorneys, and insurance companies, which request our assistance on a broad spectrum of issues.

You will be responsible for

Providing technical expertise to our clients related to food manufacturing, as well as food safety risk assessment and risk management associated with regulatory compliance and industry best practices

Identifying new clients through business development and marketing efforts

Producing technical reports and presentations

Preparing proposals and managing budgets, timelines, deliverables, client expectations, and receivables

Mentoring junior staff

You will have the following skills and qualifications

Ph.D. or M.S. degree with a concentration in Food Science, Chemistry, Biology, Microbiology, Agriculture, Engineering, or related sciences

Ten (10) or more years of relevant experience in industry, trade associations, academia, government, or consulting

Extensive knowledge of raw agricultural commodities, ingredients, food processing technologies, supply chain management, distribution, and retail/food service and related practices

Thorough knowledge of food safety hazards and preventive control programs, process and equipment validation, and facility food safety assessments

Comprehensive knowledge of food regulatory compliance, recall decision-making and management, crisis management, outbreak investigation, traceability, root cause analysis and corrective actions

Proven ability or potential to build an existing personal consulting practice comprised of a substantial client base

Excellent oral and written communication skills

Ability to manage multiple assignments under rigid time constraints

Capable of managing client projects independently

Proficiency in managing and participating effectively in team projects

Entrepreneurial spirit is a plus

Presently legally authorized to work in the United States. No immigration sponsorship or processing required.

Applicants are encouraged to submit a CV (Curriculum Vitae) with publications (feel free to include publications that are in review or pending) [not restricted to 1 page].

Life @ Exponent

To learn more about life at Exponent and our impact, please visit the following links:https://www.exponent.com/careers/life-exponenthttps://www.exponent.com/company/our-impact

We value and encourage diversity, equity and inclusion across all facets of our firm. Having a team built of people with different backgrounds, skills and perspectives allows us to provide better value to our clients and enjoy an enriched work environment.

Our firm is committed to offering a variety of programs and resources to support health and well-being. We believe that providing competitive benefits, as well as compensation and recognition programs, empowers our staff to do work that makes a difference.

Work Environment

At Exponent, we have found that in-person interactions deepen employee engagement and are crucial for development, for realizing the full potential of our talented and diverse teams, and for​ building a more inclusive workplace where all have a sense of belonging. In our offices, you can expect a supportive culture and a collaborative, dynamic, multi-disciplinary work environment. Our consultants engage in-person in the office unless they are traveling for client work or other business activities.

We value the rich lives our colleagues enjoy outside of work and understand that work/life balance is critical to our employees and their well-being. Consultants have the autonomy to balance their work and personal schedules so you can meet with clients, visit inspection sites, attend conferences, and make time for priorities outside of work, too. It is this flexible, agile work style and working hours that allow our teams to drive innovation and results in their own ways, while meeting the needs of clients. #LI-Onsite

Compensation

Our consultants are rewarded for their technical and business contributions and have an opportunity to plan for future success and career growth. Exponent's total compensation plan is consistent with its expectations of the quality and quantity of work performed and with the professional standards set by Exponent. At the Manager level and above, total compensation includes base salary, annual bonus, and 401(k) employer contribution of 7% of base salary.

The base salary range for this position is depending on experience and capabilities which will be assessed during the interview process.

Salary Range USD $174,000.00 - USD $213,000.00 /Yr.

Benefits you will enjoy

Access benefits information on our Life @ Exponent page:https://www.exponent.com/careers/life-exponent

Exponent is a proud equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected status.

If you need assistance or accommodation due to a disability, you may email us at HR-Accommodations@exponent.com.

Job Locations US-Washington, DC