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Food Innovation Jobs in Minnesota (NOW HIRING)

Actalent

Food Scientist

Detroit Lakes, MN

$55K - $85K/yr

Food Scientist This Food Scientist role focuses on driving product innovation, customer collaboration, and commercialization within a food manufacturing environment. You will combine hands-on ...

multitech

Process Innovation Manager

Moundsview, MN · On-site

The Process Innovation Manager will lead company-wide efforts to document critical business ... No food is allowed in the manufacturing area. No cell phone use allowed in manufacturing area ...

Agropur

Director Product Innovation

Eden Prairie, MN · On-site

$153K - $192K/yr

We are looking for a Director Product Innovation in Eden Prairie, MN . The Director Product ... D. in Food Science or related field preferred. * Equivalent combination of education and/or ...

Mercy

Food Service Tech

Anoka, MN

The Food Service Worker I (FSW-I) does all the functions that are not cooking related, i.e ... At Mercy, you'll help shape the future of healthcare through innovation, technology, and compassion.

Mercy

Food Service Tech

Anoka, MN

The Food Service Worker I (FSW-I) does all the functions that are not cooking related, i.e ... At Mercy, you'll help shape the future of healthcare through innovation, technology, and compassion.

Mercy

Food Service Tech

Anoka, MN

The Food Service Worker I (FSW-I) does all the functions that are not cooking related, i.e ... At Mercy, you'll help shape the future of healthcare through innovation, technology, and compassion.

Mercy

Food Service Tech

Anoka, MN

Job Profile Summary The Food Service Worker I (FSW-I) does all the functions that are not cooking ... At Mercy, you'll help shape the future of healthcare through innovation, technology, and compassion.

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Showing results 1-20

All JobsFood Innovation JobsFood Innovation Jobs in Minnesota

Food Innovation information

See Minnesota salary details

$8

$15

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How much do food innovation jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average hourly pay for food innovation in Minnesota is $15.89, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.13 and $17.16 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals in food innovation roles, and how can they be addressed?

Professionals in Food Innovation often encounter challenges such as balancing creativity with strict food safety regulations, keeping up with rapidly changing consumer preferences, and ensuring scalability of new products. Collaborating closely with R&D, marketing, and supply chain teams helps address these hurdles by integrating diverse expertise and viewpoints early in the development process. Staying informed about industry trends, engaging in continuous learning, and being open to feedback are also crucial for overcoming obstacles and driving successful food innovations.

What is the difference between Food Innovation vs Food Product Development?

AspectFood InnovationFood Product Development
CredentialsTypically requires degrees in food science, innovation, or related fieldsRequires similar degrees, often with additional focus on product formulation
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, innovation centers, R&D departmentsManufacturing facilities, R&D labs, production lines
Industry UsageFocuses on creating new food concepts, trends, and technologiesFocuses on developing, testing, and launching new food products

Food Innovation involves generating new ideas and technologies to advance the food industry, while Food Product Development focuses on turning those ideas into market-ready products. Both roles often overlap but differ mainly in scope: innovation emphasizes creativity and research, whereas product development emphasizes execution and production.

What is food innovation?

Food innovation refers to the development and implementation of new ideas, products, technologies, or processes within the food industry. This can include creating healthier food products, developing sustainable packaging, improving food safety, or introducing novel ingredients and production methods. Food innovation aims to meet changing consumer demands, address environmental concerns, and enhance the overall quality and variety of food available in the market. Professionals in this field often work in research and development, product design, and collaboration with culinary experts and scientists.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in food innovation, and why are they important?

To thrive in Food Innovation, you need expertise in food science, culinary arts, and product development, often supported by a degree in food technology or a related field. Familiarity with food safety regulations, sensory analysis tools, and R&D software is typically required. Creative problem-solving, collaboration, and adaptability are crucial soft skills for generating and implementing novel food concepts. These skills enable professionals to develop innovative, safe, and marketable food products that meet consumer demands and regulatory standards.

What are popular job titles related to Food Innovation jobs in Minnesota?

For Food Innovation jobs in Minnesota, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Food Innovation jobs in Minnesota look for?

The top searched job categories for Food Innovation jobs in Minnesota are:

Food Innovation jobs near you
Infographic showing various Food Innovation job openings in Minnesota as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 77% Full Time, and 23% Part Time. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $33,051 per year, or $15.9 per hour.

Food Scientist

Actalent

Detroit Lakes, MN

$55K - $85K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Posted 12 days ago

Job description

Food Scientist

Job Description

This Food Scientist role focuses on driving product innovation, customer collaboration, and commercialization within a food manufacturing environment. You will combine hands-on formulation work with direct customer interaction to develop solutions that align with market trends, customer requirements, and business objectives. This position is ideal for someone who enjoys both the technical aspects of product development and the relationship-building involved in working with customers, suppliers, and cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

  • Develop and optimize food formulations for new and existing products, ensuring they meet performance, quality, and cost targets.
  • Partner directly with customers to understand product goals, ingredient requirements, nutritional targets, and labeling needs, and translate these into practical formulation solutions.
  • Support customer presentations and technical discussions by providing clear, science-based explanations of formulations, processes, and product performance.
  • etc.

Additional Skills & Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's degree in Food Science or a related scientific discipline.
  • 1–5 years of experience in product development, research and development (R&D), applications, or food manufacturing.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Detroit Lakes, MN.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $55000.00 - $85000.00/yr.

Health, dental, vision, 401K Company bonus potential and profit sharing opportunity

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Detroit Lakes,MN.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 18, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.

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About Actalent

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Actalent connects passion with purpose. Our scalable talent solutions and services capabilities drive value and results and provide the expertise to help our customers achieve more. Every day, our experts around the globe are making an impact. We're supporting critical initiatives in engineering and sciences that advance how companies serve the world. Actalent promotes consultant care and engagement through experiences that enable continuous development. Our people are the difference. Actalent is an operating company of Allegis Group, the global leader in talent solutions.

Company size

5,001 - 10,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Hanover, MD, US

Year founded

1983

Social media

Facebook

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