Senior Food Innovation Scientist: Flavor & Product Lead

Sr. Scientist
- Food Innovation job at Illes Foods. Carrollton, TX.

POSITION:
Sr. Scientist
- Food
Innovation

FSLA:

Full Time, Exempt (Salary), Permanent,
On-Site

POSITION SUMMARY Senior Food Scientist will lead and drive product innovation projects, product renovation projects, and alternate material projects from ideation through commercialization. Key product categories include but are not limited to, seasoning blends, sauces, syrups, marinades, and flavors. In this role, you will work closely with customers and internal cross-functional teams (Quality, Operations, Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain, Regulatory). Partners conduct themselves in a manner that is aligned with Illes Foods Core Values:
Operate with Integrity, Stay Intentionally Curious, and Believe in the Power of the Partnership.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Leads product development projects (innovation, renovation, alternate materials) from concept to commercialization.
• Ensure the development of internal and external client relationships and maintain effective communication.
• Experienced in working closely with external customers to achieve product development goals
• Provides leadership to the organization in the areas of food science and R&D.
• Designs new products based on targeted flavor profile, texture, color, shelf life, and nutritional content while maintaining adherence to government and industry standards.
• Develop specifications for finished products with physical, chemical, and sensory properties
• Develop batching instructions for trial and operations.
• Generates and optimizes costs of formulations in collaboration with procurement and finance
• Leads pilot and commercial scale-up trials and monitors a minimum of the first three commercial productions.
• Regularly collaborates with Operations and Quality, and advises solutions for production issues
• Maintains and organizes physical and electronic formulation records.
• Support logistics on the verification of ingredients in inventory for maturity or stability for processing, and finished products for safety, quality, and nutritional value.
• Collaborative and works well in a team environment, offering support and assistance when needed.
• Highly motivated and able to work independently.
• Effective in a high-paced environment with the ability to multitask and support multiple initiatives.
• Follows GMPs, maintains sanitary conditions, adheres to safe work practices, and ensures that product quality is maintained

• Maintain appropriate and professional written and verbal communication.
• Ensure that food safety, legality, integrity, and quality standards are always maintained.
• Perform other tasks as assigned by Management.
• Regular attendance for scheduled shifts is a requirement of this position.

Minimum

Job Requirements:


EDUCATION:

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science or related disciplines required.

EXPERIENCE:

Minimum of 5 years of food industry formulation experience

REQUIRED SKILLS:

• Experience leading product development projects from concept to commercialization
• Ability to identify opportunities for improvement and drive the opportunity to completion
• Comfortable working cross-functionally and leading project teams
• Broad knowledge of ingredient functionality, management, and product development software.
• Excellent problem-solving skills
• Excellent organizational and communication (oral and written) skills, proficiency in speaking, comprehending, reading and writing English required
• Excellent mathematical skills and knowledge of, or ability to learn, statistical analysis required
• Computer literacy, including competency with Microsoft Office and demonstrated ability to operate complex software programs required
• Working knowledge of government regulations and rules of certification bodies such as Kosher, Halal, Organic, and others as applicable to business
• Able to multitask, work alone with light supervision, and in a team environment
• Able to work in the laboratory and pilot plant.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Taste, smell, and see well enough to discriminate the quantity and quality of individual flavor components. Physically able to lift 20 pounds. See well enough to read formulas, batch sheets, and work requests, and work on the computer efficiently and effectively. Ability to hear directions. Ability to drive a vehicle legally and safely in the performance of the job.

LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMER
The above job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an all-inclusive or exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities as required by law. Some job requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other…