Principal Scientist

Title: Principal Scientist

Location: Topeka, Kansas, United States

Work Type: Hybrid

Job ID: 172232 

Job Description:

Job Description

A part of Colgate-Palmolive since 1976, Hill's Pet Nutrition offers the highest-quality pet nutrition available through product lines Prescription Diet and Science Diet. Veterinarians worldwide recommend and feed their own pets Hill's products more than any other brand of pet food.

Available in approximately 80 countries around the world, our extensive line of products includes more than 60 Prescription Diet brand pet foods and more than 50 Science Diet brand pet foods.

We believe all animals should be loved and cared for during their lifetimes. That is why we are proud our pet foods can make a difference in your pet's life.

A career at Hill's Pet Nutrition or Colgate-Palmolive is an excellent opportunity if you seek a global experience, constant challenge, and development opportunities in an environment that respects work/life effectiveness.

Information at a Glance

Travel Required?: Travel - up to 10% of time

Posting Start Date: 4/1/26

Hybrid

Who We Are

Colgate-Palmolive Company is a global consumer products company operating in over 200 countries specializing in Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care, Skin Care, and Pet Nutrition. Our products are trusted in more households than any other brand in the world, making us a household name!

Join Colgate-Palmolive, a caring, innovative growth company reimagining a healthier future for people, their pets, and our planet. Guided by our core values-Caring, Inclusive, and Courageous-we foster a culture that inspires our people to achieve common goals. Together, let's build a brighter, healthier future for all.

Job Summary

The Principal Scientist provides expert leadership in clinical nutrition, claims substantiation, and complex study design. This role serves as a key strategic driver for Hill's nutritional philosophy, ensuring competitive superiority through the application of advanced clinical expertise. In addition to serving as a Principal Investigator on global studies, the incumbent is responsible for the direct management, mentorship, and professional development of a team of Research Scientists. This position requires elite veterinary credentials to bridge the gap between scientific innovation and clinical application.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Supervise and lead a team of Research Scientists. Provide technical mentorship, manage performance, champion Hill's nutritional philosophies and foster a collaborative environment to drive departmental goals. Guide the team in study execution, data interpretation, and scientific writing.
• Serve as the Principal Investigator (PI) on internal and external pet nutrition and clinical studies. Simultaneously manage multiple high-priority projects and resources, ensuring accountability for all scientific deliverables.
• Apply deep clinical expertise to develop new nutrition claims and substantiation dossiers. Translate complex research findings into relevant insights for pet parents and veterinarians.
• Author and review clinical study reports and manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals. Effectively communicate findings through oral presentations and technical documentation to both internal and external stakeholders.

Education / Experience Requirements

Basic Qualifications:

• Education: DVM/VMD or equivalent veterinary degree.

• Board Certification: Diplomate status in the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) or the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ECVIM) is required.

• Research Experience: 10+ years of experience in clinical research or the animal health industry.

• Leadership: Minimum of 3 years of experience directly managing scientific professionals or leading multi-disciplinary research teams.

• Technical: Demonstrated excellence in designing and executing clinical trials or nutrition experiments in a medical or nutritional field.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced Degree: PhD in Animal Nutrition, Nutritional Biochemistry, or a related scientific field (or equivalent board certification)

• Specialization: Advanced knowledge of physiology, biochemistry, and nutritional impacts on disease status.

• Industry Knowledge: Experience with regulatory requirements, intellectual property (patents), and pet food formulation.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary Range $124,000.00 - $174,000.00 USD

Pay is determined based on experience, qualifications, and location. Salaried employees may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, profit-sharing, and long-term incentives for Executive-level roles.

Benefits: Salaried employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, basic life insurance, paid parental leave, disability coverage, and participation in the 401(k) retirement plan with company matching contributions subject to eligibility requirements. Additional benefits include a minimum of 15 vacation/PTO days (hourly employees receive a minimum of 120 hours) and 13 paid holidays (vacation days are prorated based on the employee's hire date within the calendar year). Paid sick leave is adjusted based on role and location in accordance with local laws. Detailed information regarding paid sick leave entitlements will be provided to employees upon hiring and may be subject to adjustments based on changes in legislation or company policies.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

Our journey begins with our people-developing strong talent with diverse backgrounds and perspectives to best serve our consumers around the world and fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels a true sense of belonging. We are dedicated to ensuring that each individual can be their authentic self, is treated with respect, and is empowered by leadership to contribute meaningfully to our business.

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