About Careertakes

👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, Scientific & QA.

Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.

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What You’ll Do

This early-career Nutritionist role supports pet food and animal feed product development and quality across formulation, ingredient evaluation, and regulatory compliance. You will partner with cross-functional teams (quality, production, procurement) to help deliver safe, nutritionally balanced products.

• Support development, evaluation, and implementation of nutrition programs and pet food/feed formulations
• Analyze ingredient specifications and nutrient profiles to support formulation decisions
• Assist with laboratory and data analysis to verify nutritional targets and labeling requirements
• Maintain accurate formulation documentation and ingredient records
• Collaborate with quality, production, and procurement to troubleshoot formulation or ingredient issues during manufacturing
• Conduct literature and market research on emerging ingredients, nutrition trends, and regulatory changes (e.g., AAFCO guidance)
• Use formulation tools/software (or learn internal tools) to build and test recipes and nutrient matrices
• Help prepare technical documents and regulatory submissions as needed

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What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Animal Nutrition, Animal Science, Food Science, or related field
• 3–5 years of foundational experience in animal nutrition, feed formulation, or pet food industry (entry-level / early career candidates with relevant internships or coop experience are encouraged)
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; comfortable interpreting nutritional data and ingredient analyses
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and experience managing structured data
• Clear written and verbal communication; ability to work both independently and collaboratively
• High attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate technical documentation

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Preferred Skills

• Experience with pet food or feed formulation software/tools
• Practical understanding of manufacturing processes, ingredient sourcing, and QA/QC interactions
• Familiarity with regulatory requirements related to animal feed and pet food (including AAFCO guidelines)
• Interest in novel ingredients and nutrition science trends relevant to the pet food industry

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Compensation & Location

• Salary: $70,000 — $90,000 per year
• Location: Shorewood / Joliet, IL (onsite or hybrid per client needs)
• Employment type: Full-time

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Why This Role

This position is an excellent opportunity for an early-career professional to gain hands-on formulation experience in the pet food/feed industry, expand technical skills, and collaborate with multiple manufacturing and quality teams. You’ll receive mentorship exposure to formulation workflows and regulatory practices important for a career in animal nutrition.

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Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency

Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.

If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.