Senior Research Chef & Food Scientist

Job Summary

Are you passionate about creating impactful food solutions that bring together creativity, science, and customer success? IFF is a global leader in flavors, fragrances, food ingredients and health & biosciences. We deliver sustainable innovations that elevate everyday products. The role is based in South Brunswick, NJ.

• High level of knowledge of recipe ingredients and raw materials and their function
• Independently navigate both customer and internal projects from start to finish and act as a project leader
• Develop and improve application formulations and finished product formulations using knowledge of industrial standards, creativity, country‑specific and client requirements
• Research, refine, and upgrade solutions for customer projects
• Maintain and continuously renovate application‑specific recipe database
• Maximize flavor and ingredients performance through recipe design
• Provide flavors, food systems and ingredients‑driven solutions utilizing creative problem‑solving skills
• Review, renew and refine flavor repositories in line with established metrics
• Identify flavor repository gaps and actions and address them with appropriate expertise or resources
• Continue to build flavor attribute and language knowledge and articulate with others in the team and on projects
• Use creativity and innovation skills for customer, industry and investor presentations
• Be able and willing to mentor others in the organization, including Food Designers and Research Chefs

• B.S. or higher in Food Science or a related discipline (e.g., Chemistry, Culinary Science, Human Nutrition)
• Minimum 10 years of experience in the industrial food or preferred flavor industry
• Experience as a Research Chef with developing products in an industrial food environment
• Interest in executive/head chefs with strong culinary expertise who have gained food science, product development, or R&D experience in Food Consumer Packaged Goods manufacturing
• Ideal candidate combines deep culinary expertise with a strong foundation in food science and product development, and commercialization
• 2–3 years of experience working in cross‑functional teams in roles such as project leader
• Proven ability to manage multiple, high‑value projects independently with strong planning and decision‑making skills
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and presentation skills with internal and external stakeholders

• Strong understanding of sensory evaluation, consumer insights, and their application to successful product design
• Experience contributing to global or regional innovation programs and technology platforms
• Recognized technical expertise with the ability to mentor and develop junior colleagues

• Opportunity to work on high‑impact, global customer projects
• Exposure to industry‑leading technology, ingredients, and innovation platforms
• Continuous learning and professional development opportunities
• The chance to shape regional and global technical strategies
• Competitive total rewards aligned with experience and impact

Salary Ranges: 97,916.00 –  USD

We consider all qualified candidates equally and based on merit, without regard to religion, ethnicity, national origin, race, age, veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation or disability.