Wet Food Development Lead

Changing the World, One Kibble at a Time

Champion Petfoods is expanding! We are excited to announce we are looking for a Wet Food Development Lead 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 Wet Pet Food Development lead will play a critical role in developing and optimizing wet pet food products. This position requires a deep understanding of pet nutrition, ingredient functionality, and product formulation. A significant focus will be on cultivating and maintaining robust relationships with external co-manufacturing partners to ensure the successful production of high-quality wet pet food.

The Wet Food Development Lead will be based out of our Morinville Research and Innovation (R&I) Centre and will shift over to our facility in Acheson once the team move is complete. This role will also occasionally work out of our Edmonton office and has a hybrid schedule between home and office.

What a typical day looks like :

• Develop and optimize wet pet food formulations, ensuring palatability, and compliance with industry standards.
• Work with formulation team to guarantee nutritional adequacy.
• Serve as the primary technical liaison between Champion Petfoods and co-manufacturing partners, fostering collaborative relationships and ensuring clear, effective communication.
• Oversee the product development and production process with co-manufacturing partners, troubleshooting issues and ensuring consistent product quality and performance.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams, including quality assurance, project management, and supply chain, to drive product development from concept to commercialization.
• Conduct thorough research and evaluation of new raw materials and new technologies for potential use in wet pet food products.
• Perform detailed wet food characterization and food performance analysis to ensure product excellence.
• Monitor industry trends, regulatory changes, and advancements in pet nutrition to maintain the company's innovative edge.
• Prepare and maintain detailed documentation such as specifications, and production processes.
• Establish sensory evaluation panels to assess product performance and make necessary adjustments.
• Provide ingredient recommendations to support optimal product formulation and performance.
• Support the development of packaging and labeling to ensure regulatory compliance and appeal to pet owners.

What are we looking for?

What can you expect from Champion?

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.