Senior Flavor Applications Scientist

Summary

We are seeking a Flavor Applications Scientist to join our Innovation R&D team and serve as the primary flavor subject matter expert supporting R&D initiatives across a fast-paced innovation pipeline.

We are seeking a Flavor Applications Scientist to join our Innovation R&D team and serve as the primary flavor subject matter expert supporting R&D initiatives across a fast-paced innovation pipeline.

Location:

North Brunswick, NJ (on-site); anticipated relocation to NYC 2027

• Serve as the primary flavor subject matter expert supporting Innovation R&D projects.
• Lead flavor development activities across product innovation projects from concept through commercialization.
• Partner with scientists to translate project briefs into flavor strategies aligned with target sensory profiles, brand positioning, technical requirements and cost objectives
• Evaluate, screen, and recommend flavor systems across a variety of food and beverage applications.
• Conduct bench-top flavor trials and optimize flavor performance within finished product matrices.
• Troubleshoot flavor-related challenges including flavor impact, off-notes, masking requirements, flavor stability and interactions with sweeteners, proteins, cultures, stabilizers and other key ingredients.
• Provide flavor-focused guidance during formulation development to ensure flavor systems perform effectively through processing and shelf-life.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for flavor houses and external partners supporting innovation projects.
• Develop clear and effective flavor briefs outlining project objectives, target sensory attributes, formulation context, ingredient restrictions, timing requirements and business needs.
• Manage flavor submissions, coordinate tasting reviews, provide actionable feedback, and drive iterative development towards final flavor selection.
• Build strong strategic relationships with flavor partners to improve responsiveness, creativity and speed to solution.
• Evaluate emerging flavor technologies, ingredients, and external capabilities to identify new opportunities for the business.

• Lead and facilitate flavor reviews, sensory evaluations, benchmarking activities, and comparative tastings in finished product systems.
• Partner with internal stakeholders to assess flavor fit, performance, consumer relevance and technical feasibility.
• Maintain clear documentation of flavor submissions, evaluations, key learnings, and final decisions.
• Support the development of internal best practices for flavor evaluation, flavor communication and knowledge sharing.

• Lead flavor selection and optimization through pilot, scale-up, and commercialization phases.
• Collaborate with New Product Development, Procurement, Quality, and Regulatory to ensure flavor decisions align with business and commercialization requirements.
• Assess flavor-related risks associated with supply continuity, cost, regulatory compliance and technical feasibility.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of flavor development processes, vendor management practices and innovation ways of working.

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Food Engineering or related scientific discipline. Advanced degree preferred.
• 4-7+ years experience in flavor applications, flavor development, or related R&D roles.
• Experience working directly with flavor house and managing flavor development projects from brief through commercialization.
• Strong understanding of flavor functionality within dairy, cultured dairy, beverage, or adjacent categories.
• Hands-on bench formulation experience and comfort working in a laboratory environment.
• Strong sensory evaluation skills with the ability to translate flavor observations into clear technical recommendations for internal stakeholders and vendor partners.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced innovation environment.
• Strong communication and influencing skills with the ability to effectively partner across technical and cross functional teams.
• Ability to travel up to 30% to support vendor visits, pilot and plant trials, cross-site collaboration and other business needs.

Chobani is a food maker with a mission of making high-quality and nutritious food accessible to more people, while elevating our communities and making the world a healthier place. In short: making good food…