R&D Co-Op (Jan- August Term)

Join Riverside Natural Foods Ltd., a Canadian-based, family-owned, and globally operating business, committed to leaving the world better than we found it. As a B-Corp certified, Triple-Bottom Line company, we proudly manufacture nutritious, 'better-for-you' snacks such as MadeGood and GOOD TO GO. We value teamwork, humility, respect, ownership, adaptability, grit, and fun.

We’re on an ambitious mission to double our business by 2030, and we need talented individuals like you to help us reach new heights. At Riverside, you’ll have the opportunity to chart your own path to success while contributing to ours. We believe anything worth doing is worth doing right, and our values will guide us through the rugged terrain – and yes, it will get rough. But that’s what makes the journey worthwhile.

So, lace up your boots and let’s tackle the climb together.

You can learn more about us at www.riversidenaturalfoods.com.

Purpose:

The Technical R&D Co-op Student supports the MadeGood R&D team in renovation, and commercialization of innovative food products. Working alongside cross-functional teams, this role contributes to R&D projects, equipment and line commissioning, plant trials, product launches, and troubleshooting initiatives that help bring high-quality products from concept to commercialization.

The successful candidate will assist with a variety of R&D activities in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. Responsibilities include conducting research, performing bench-top testing and product evaluations, supporting pilot and manufacturing trials, documenting results, and assessing product feasibility. The co-op student will also contribute to day-to-day support by applying strong analytical, problem-solving, and attention-to-detail skills.

This role is ideal for a curious, hands-on learner who is passionate about food science. The successful candidate will demonstrate creativity, scientific curiosity, strong organizational and documentation skills, and the ability to adapt to changing priorities. They will embody Riverside's core values, collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, and contribute with integrity, accountability, and a commitment to delivering accurate, data-driven results.

Primary Responsibilities:

Demonstrate and uphold Riverside’s Core Values

Keep abreast of industry trends, new technologies and ingredients in the global snack marketplace and beyond

Attend seminars & vendor meetings, etc. to expand knowledge of ingredient functionality, industry trends, etc.

Build collaborative relationships with existing or new ingredient vendor partners on innovative use of existing or new ingredients

Use sound scientific evidence when conducting scientific testing to seek truth, rather than success or failure. Use this information to make informed decisions and provide actionable insights.

Independently conduct benchtop evaluations of new food products using SOPs. Document all formulas, methodologies, observations and results.  Communicate information clearly to stakeholders.

Support plant trials through data collection, organization, material preparation and clean up

Support day-to-day production troubleshooting with a collaborative mindset and data-driven problem-solving skills

Create product samples for evaluation on benchtop or pilot plant scale with meticulous attention to detail. Package and label samples appropriately for intended use.

Develop and maintain accurate project records to ensure seamless transitions of project ownership and capture learnings from project successes and failures

Participate in shelf-life program by tasting products & providing objective feedback on a weekly basis.  Arrange shelf-life tastings when Lab Technician is unavailable.

Respect and promote the company’s health and safety program, maintaining a safe working environment and ensure the continued compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety act and JHSC recommendations

• Adhere to all Riverside food safety policies and procedures
• Manage organization and documentation of personal project load
• Demonstrate flexibility adaptability when faced with changes to project scope and timelines
• Support onboarding of new staff as needed
• Other duties as required

Education and Qualifications:

• Currently enrolled in post-secondary Food Science, Food Technology, Chemistry, Engineering, or related field program
• Experience in food an asset (manufacturing, kitchen, laboratory, etc.)
• Experience working in kitchens, laboratories, pilot plants, and/or food manufacturing facilities
• Proficient with MS office suite
• Reporting Relationships

The position reports to a Senior Food Scientist in Technical R&D.

Skills and Abilities:

• Proactive and self-motivated; able to see gaps and take
• OWNERSHIP to fill them without being asked
• Determined analytical and problem-solving skills, driven to seek honest answers
• Disciplined; uses science fundamentals and maintains technical rigour in everyday work

Demonstrated

• ADAPTABILITY and
• GRIT when faced with setbacks, rapid change and ambiguity
• Creative flair; pushes the boundaries to find unconventional solutions
• Embraces discomfort, HUMBLE and excited to explore new challenges and territories
• PASSIONATE in R&D and brings enthusiasm daily
• Deep desire for knowledge, personal skill development and career growth
• Exceptional time management and organizational skills; can function independently
• Known as a TEAM player, who is skilled in collaboration and operates with RESPECT
• Ability to sample Riverside brands’ products and ingredients or products of interest
• Ability to travel regularly to Riverside manufacturing sites (Toronto/Vaughan area)

Job Scorecard:

Key Accountabilities

The rating system for the corresponding accountability is as follows:

• 1 = Crucial tasks, day to day, role-critical, urgent
• 2 = Important tasks, supporting the team
• 3 =
• Non-critical tasks, less urgent, supporting the business as a whole
• Responsibility
• KPI/ Metric to Measure Success
• Rating (1 – 3)
• Comments
• Supports production and procurement initiatives to ensure the day-to-day running of the business
• Responds quickly and creatively to production and procurement challenges ensuring products meet sensory and quality specifications
• 1
• Assists in R&D commissioning of new equipment to expand capacity
• Collects data for formulations on new equipment
• Ensures products meet sensory and quality specifications
• 1
• Assists with renovations and commercialization activities to support to support NPD and CI initiatives (Branded/Private)
• Helps implement new formulas in production that take into consideration equipment capability, nutrition and sensory targets
• Complete R&D documentation including formula, procedure, quality and product appearance specifications
• 1
• Assists with product development – benchtop evaluation, research, plant trials, etc.
• Fully documents lab benchwork formulas and results
• Supports plants trials through data collection, organization
• Researches new trends, scientific challenges, etc.
• 1
• Competencies for Success of the Role: Key Riverside Leadership Competencies needed to be successful in this role:
• Leadership Capabilities
• Definition
• FYI Competencies
• Comments
• Delivers Results
• Ability to rebound from setbacks and adversity when faced with difficult situations. Capability to navigate a path forward without all the necessary information.
• Resilience
• Manages Ambiguity
• Ensures Accountability
• 1.Maintains a positive attitude and forward-thinking approach despite setbacks.
• 2. Manages the risk that comes with moving forward when the outcome isn’t certain.
• 3. Establishes clear responsibilities and processes for monitoring work and measuring results.
• 4. Follows through on commitments and makes sure others do the same.
• 5. Takes personal responsibility for decisions, actions, and failures.
• 6. Is calm and productive, even when things are up in the air.
• 7. Deals constructively with problems that do not have clear solutions or outcomes.
• Fosters Collaborative Relationships

Ability to find a way to achieve an objective by making the best use of the resources available- doing more with less. Looking beyond the obvious for other viable approaches to accomplishing the goal.

Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.

Resourcefulness

Collaborates

1.Adapts quickly to changing resource requirements.

2.Enjoys multi-tasking; applies organizational know-how and leverages relationships to advance multiple objectives.

3.Finds creative solutions to challenges.

4. Works cooperatively with others across the organization to achieve shared objectives.

5.Credits others for their contributions and accomplishments.

6.Gains trust and support of others.

Key Riverside Functional Competencies needed to be successful in this role:

Functional Capabilities

Definition

Competencies

Comments

Commercialization skills

Translating formulations from lab scale to large scale production. Capability to understand Riverside’s manufacturing processes and how formulations interact with production equipment.

• -Manufacturing Process knowledge
• -Critical Thinking
• -Data-driven decision making
• -Risk Management
• -Problem Solving
• -Specification Development

-Assisting in execution of plant trials using a scientific approach to ensure a successful scale up of formulas from lab to industrial scale.

• Helping troubleshoot production issues collaboratively using a data-forward approach and critical thinking skills

New Product Development skills

Ability to develop new formulations taking into consideration equipment capability, nutrition & cost guardrails and sensory targets.

-Formulation

• -Ingredient functionality
• -Data Management
• -Sensory science
• -Ideation & Innovation

-Ability to manage multiple criteria when developing a new formula.

-Uses an analytical approach when planning lab work in order to understand ingredient functionality in formula

-Uses sensory best practices to guide product decisions.

Please note this role as a new vacancy.

What we expect:

Values-led:

You’ll be a member of a thoughtful and compassionate team that prioritizes respect, teamwork and resourcefulness along with a good dash of fun. Sometimes, even making granola bars is hard, and life’s too short to take ourselves so seriously that we don’t enjoy the journey.

Unparalleled experiences and opportunities

: We’re still determining who we are and what we can be. Help us shape what this organization will look like and what we’ll offer the world, into the future. This means rolling up your sleeves and sometimes building the process – fast! – while employing it. At Riverside, progress occasionally means proceeding imperfectly, and we’re okay with that, as long as we’re staying true to our values and learning and improving along the way.

Access to everyone:

We’re a flat organization with few silos which means you’ll have full access to everyone from our founders to our production staff. Even when employees dress up, they wear steel-toed shoes. So don’t be shy. Speak up, share your ideas and go places you normally wouldn’t – like the plant, or the boardroom.

Personal development

: We’ll support and empower you to chart your own path and reach any heights you set for yourself. Career paths at Riverside are carved by the people walking on them, not dictated by leaders. Count on us to give you the training and tools to grow and progress.

Gratitude

: As a growing business, we can’t always offer formal recognition like awards programs, but we do show our true gratitude and appreciation. At Riverside, we’re all in this together and we value you.

Be a Riverside Brand Ambassador:

Stay relentlessly close to our consumers and represent the brand in every interaction, decision, and deliverable. Bring the consumer voice into your work by protecting product quality, availability, and experience, acting early when standards slip, and delivering consistent value that earns trust, advocacy, and long-term brand love.

What We Offer:

Values-led:

We don’t cut corners or step on anyone or anything on our way to our summit. There is no winning at all costs here. Every step you take must align with our values, no compromises.

Courageous determination:

As a family-run, rapidly growing business, we are often challenged to find ways to deliver that aren’t obvious or easy. You must be willing to try, ask and answer challenging questions, test and learn, turn over every stone, keep moving forward and help us find a way through. Resourcefulness and grit will be your constant companions at Riverside and will serve you well.