Production Specialist

Job Summary

Manage other supervisors or teams of employees using machinery or equipment to assist with manufacturing, packaging, and other steps along a production line.

IFF is a global leader in flavors, fragrances, food ingredients and health & biosciences. We deliver sustainable innovations that elevate everyday products.

Food Ingredients: Innovating improved nutritional profiles, better taste and texture, and greater cost efficiency to meet the needs of global food and beverage manufacturers.

The Production Specialist role is based in Memphis, Tennessee (onsite role).

Be part of a collaborative, solution-oriented, resilient, and growth-focused team where together we can achieve greatness and make a real impact.

Your potential is our inspiration.

Where You’ll Make a Difference

• Provide daily production floor support by monitoring process performance, analyzing operating data, troubleshooting issues, and helping achieve production objectives across assigned manufacturing units.
• Coordinate, communicate, and support execution of daily operating plans to ensure safe, efficient, and reliable production.
• Monitor key manufacturing processes, including Clean-in-Place activities and product changeovers, to ensure compliance with established procedures and identify improvement opportunities.
• Lead and participate in incident investigations using Root Cause Failure Analysis and other structured problem-solving methodologies to identify corrective actions and prevent recurrence.
• Support planned and unplanned unit startup and shutdown activities while maintaining safety, quality, and operational standards.
• Collaborate with Production Engineers, Operations teams, and site leadership to develop plans that meet future production demands and business objectives.
• Analyze current operating conditions and historical performance data to identify opportunities for continuous improvement and enhanced unit performance.
• Provide guidance, coaching, and day-to-day support to hourly manufacturing employees in alignment with site goals and operational expectations.
• Promote a culture of safety, food safety, quality, teamwork, and accountability through effective communication and engagement across the manufacturing organization.

What Makes You the Right Fit

• Minimum of five years of manufacturing or process operations experience; or a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline with one to two years of relevant experience, including internships or cooperative education programs.
• Demonstrated ability to collect, analyze, and interpret operational data to identify solutions, evaluate risks, and support sound business decisions.
• Experience troubleshooting manufacturing processes and resolving production-related issues in a fast-paced industrial environment.
• Strong understanding of operational excellence principles, including safety, quality, efficiency, and continuous improvement.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills with the ability to collaborate across multiple levels of the organization.
• Proven ability to influence the adoption of desired safety, quality, and performance standards through positive leadership and example.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, and other computer-based systems and databases.
• Ability to prioritize multiple activities, manage changing business needs, and support operational objectives in a dynamic manufacturing environment.

How Would You Stand Out?

• Experience in food manufacturing, including exposure to centrifugation, pumping systems, spray drying, and process control operations.
• Knowledge of maintenance and work management processes, including Computerized Maintenance Management Systems such as SAP.
• Six Sigma certification, Lean Manufacturing experience, or demonstrated knowledge of continuous improvement methodologies.

Why Choose Us?

• Opportunity to lead a critical manufacturing operation within IFF’s global Food Ingredients business.

• Exposure to complex manufacturing processes and cross-functional leadership opportunities.

• Ability to shape site culture, develop future leaders, and drive meaningful operational improvements.

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