Senior Formulation Scientist

We are Prinova, a leading global supplier of ingredients and premix manufacturing solutions, trusted by the world's best-known food, beverage, and nutrition brands. Part of the NAGASE Group, our expertise lies in Ingredient Distribution, Manufacturing Solutions, and Customized Services. Our global network of colleagues delivers sustainable value‑added solutions to customers across the world.

Department: R&D, Solutions

Location: Carol Stream, IL

Type: Full‑time

The Senior Formulation Scientist serves as a senior technical authority within the Solutions R&D team, responsible for leading complex formulation projects from concept through commercialization. The role provides deep technical expertise, independent project leadership, and cross‑functional collaboration, acting as a lead formulator and primary technical contact for key customer accounts.

• Lead the design, optimisation, and commercialisation of complex formulations and create technical documents.
• Serve as a technical owner of assigned key global accounts.
• Create, review, and maintain formulation documentation, specifications, and technical deliverables.
• Support formulation scale‑up activities in partnership with the R&D sample lab, manufacturing, and operations teams.
• Apply analytical, stoichiometric, and scale‑up principles to formulation problem‑solving and optimisation.
• Act as the primary technical contact for customer discussions, including unsupervised customer visits and technical presentations.
• Collaborate effectively with Sales, Quality, Regulatory, Operations, Manufacturing, and other cross‑functional partners on formulation initiatives.
• Participate in ECOs, ingredient substitutions, and formulation refinements to support continuous improvement.
• Support technical onboarding, training delivery, and mentorship of R&D team members.
• Serve as an internal technical resource and represent R&D in cross‑functional forums or onboarding discussions.
• May provide temporary coverage for select formulation approvals or project acceptance, at the direction of the R&D Manager, to support business continuity.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of departmental and organisational objectives.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must meet the following requirements. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• BS/BA in Food Science, Nutrition, or Chemistry (preferred).
• 10+ years’ experience in the food industry in a scientific role OR 7+ years in a food/supplement formulation role at a food/supplement company.

• Advanced formulation design expertise with production blending or process flow experience (both preferred).
• Strong understanding of formulation scalability and manufacturing constraints.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and Word.
• Experience working with and reading work orders and technical documentation.
• Competence in analytical or mathematical calculations, especially those in stoichiometric and/or scale‑up processes.
• Ability to use wet‑chemical lab equipment, including lab scales.
• Ability to manage large projects independently or with a team.

Light travel, including customer site visits as needed.

• Ability to view a computer screen and type for extended hours.
• Ability to adjust work schedule as business needs require.

All employees are required to ensure compliance with food safety, food defence, and food quality standards (FDA, ILDPH, FSMA, and BRC). Employees must also comply with OSHA occupational safety and health standards and all company rules, regulations, and procedures.

• Medical, Dental, Vision
• Employer‑paid STD and LTD
• HSA and FSA
• Paid Maternity and Paternity Leave
• PTO
• Employer‑paid Basic Life Insurance
• 401(k) & Roth with employer match
• Eight Paid Holidays + 3 Floating Holidays
• Voluntary Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, Accident Insurance
• Personal growth, including training and development opportunities

Prinova is committed to providing equal opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, creed, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, protected medical condition, medical leave, marital status, citizenship status, ancestry, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, genetic information, domestic violence victim status, Civil Air Patrol status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.