Product Development (PD) Technician - Wet, Fresh & Treats

Job Description:

Changing the World, One Kibble at a Time

Champion Petfoods is expanding! We are excited to announce we are looking for a Product Development (PD) Technician - Wet, Fresh & Treats to join our rapidly growing company.

Champion Petfoods is an award-winning pet food crafter with a reputation of trust spanning 35+ years. From our humble beginnings, founded in a small town in Alberta, Canada, Champion – with its ORIJEN® and ACANA® brands – is a key player in the global premium pet food industry.

Our purpose, To Earn Pet Lover Trust Every Day so Pets Thrive for a Lifetime, provides the foundation for our highest aspirations as a company. Being a partner to the communities that surround us – and the environment that sustains us – are top priorities.

We would love to hear from you if you are passionate about personal and professional growth and see yourself as a key player contributing to our continued success as an award-winning company.

Here’s the scoop - Summary

The PD Technician supports hands-on product development activities across wet, fresh, and treats categories. This role is responsible for executing prototyping, capturing accurate development data, and supporting logistics for testing and trials.

The position plays a critical role in ensuring efficient experimentation, strong documentation practices, and effective coordination of palatability and sample management activities.

This position will be based out of one of our Kitchens, in Acheson (AB) or Bowling Green (KY) and works a hybrid schedule with 3 days in-person.

We are not supporting relocation for this position.

What a typical day looks like

• Execute hands-on product prototyping and bench development in line with project objectives
• Accurately capture and record experimental data, observations, and results in development systems
• Draft, update and maintain SOPs, specifications, and records to support consistency and knowledge transfer
• Prepare materials and support internal trials, including pilot activities
• Coordinate logistics for palatability testing, including sample preparation, packing, shipping, and tracking
• Procure ingredients, materials, and benchmarking samples required for development work
• Support benchmarking and competitive product evaluations
• Ensure adherence to safety, quality, and lab best practices
• Collaborate closely with product developers, and cross-functional partners to enable efficient project execution

• Build, organize, and maintain centralized systems (e.g., SharePoint) to store and manage development data, documentation, and project records

What you'll bring

• Bachelor's degree or diploma in Food Science, Food Technology, Chemistry, Biology, or a related scientific discipline. 

• Working knowledge of food product development, laboratory techniques, testing methodologies, and data collection practices. 

• Knowledge of chemical, biological, and physical testing principles and analytical methods. 

• Ability to prepare samples, and support hands-on development and trial activities. 

• Strong organizational, planning, prioritization, and time-management skills. 

• Ability to maintain accurate technical documentation and records.  

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and document management systems (e.g., SharePoint).  

• Experience writing and mantining SOPs, specifications, project records, and development data in a structured and accessible manner.  

• Experience building and managing SharePoint sites, document libraries, templates, and information repositories is considered an asset.  

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced product development environment. 
  
  

What can you expect from Champion?

• Safety: a strong commitment to ensure all people are provided with a safe, healthy and respectful environment.
• Earnings: Competitive Wages that give financial peace of mind, RRSP/401k with Company, and donation matching.
• Industry Competitive Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision and Employee Assistance Programs to meet your individual or family needs.
• Continuing Education: In House & Online Learning & Development, as well as an Education Assistance Program.
• Quality: a dedication to uphold the highest standards of authenticity, nutritional integrity, and food safety, to earn the trust of Pet Lovers everywhere.
• Other Perks: Free Bag of Premium Pet Food each month, Free Parking and more!

What are you waiting for? Join the pack!

Come as you are.

We value diversity in all forms and know the power it can bring. Workplace equality allows for creative ideas to bloom, diverse points of views to be heard, and increases overall happiness. That sounds pretty good to us.

Champion is an equal opportunity employer. Regardless of your race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, veteran status, or any other creed, you are wanted here.

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