Senior Cocoa & Chocolate Scientist

Protea Recruitment Ltd | Food | Drinks | FMCG Recruitment Partner; Slough; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Protea Recruitment Ltd in London is recruiting a Senior Cocoa & Chocolate Scientist for a global FMCG R&D and technology function. You will drive cocoa and chocolate technology development, translating science into scalable products and innovative solutions.

The role focuses on long-term platforms, sustainability, and breakthrough ingredient innovations within confectionery and baked categories. Strong collaboration with internal teams and external partners is required.

Qualifications

• Strong technical understanding of cocoa and chocolate technologies.
• Experience working within confectionery, chocolate or ingredient-led FMCG environments.
• Knowledge of chocolate processing, formulation and scale-up.
• Hands-on pilot plant and factory trial experience.
• Strong problem-solving and technical troubleshooting capability.
• Experience working cross-functionally within fast-paced innovation environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and optimisation of cocoa blends and chocolate systems across confectionery and baked applications.
• Build and share technical expertise around cocoa processing methods, materials science and emerging technologies.
• Support breakthrough innovation projects focused on sustainability, functionality and product performance.
• Lead bench development, pilot plant trials and factory scale-up activities.
• Provide technical solutions to product and processing challenges.
• Collaborate closely with procurement, sensory, supply chain, quality and commercial teams.
• Work with external suppliers and technology partners to identify new opportunities and best practices.
• Support the development of proprietary technologies and patentable innovation opportunities.
• Manage technical project plans and support delivery of long-term innovation roadmaps.

Skills

Cocoa tech

Chocolate processing

Pilot plant

Cross-functional

Problem-solving

Stakeholder management

Sustainability

Job description

Senior Cocoa & Chocolate Scientist

Location: London

Protea Recruitment is delighted to be partnered exclusively with a global FMCG business to recruit a Senior Cocoa & Chocolate Scientist to join a highly innovative global R&D and technology function.

This is a unique opportunity to join a business investing heavily in breakthrough innovation, sustainability and future-focused product development across confectionery and baked categories.

The successful candidate will play a key role in building technical expertise around cocoa materials and chocolate technologies, translating scientific understanding into commercially scalable products and innovative solutions.

This is not a traditional NPD role. The position sits within a global innovation team focused on long-term technology platforms, ingredient innovation and sustainable cocoa solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and optimisation of cocoa blends and chocolate systems across confectionery and baked applications
• Build and share technical expertise around cocoa processing methods, materials science and emerging technologies
• Support breakthrough innovation projects focused on sustainability, functionality and product performance
• Lead bench development, pilot plant trials and factory scale-up activities
• Provide technical solutions to product and processing challenges
• Collaborate closely with procurement, sensory, supply chain, quality and commercial teams
• Work with external suppliers and technology partners to identify new opportunities and best practices
• Support the development of proprietary technologies and patentable innovation opportunities
• Manage technical project plans and support delivery of long-term innovation roadmaps

About You

We are keen to speak with candidates who have experience within chocolate, confectionery, cocoa ingredients or related food technology environments.

Experience & Skills Required

• Strong technical understanding of cocoa and chocolate technologies
• Experience working within confectionery, chocolate or ingredient-led FMCG environments
• Knowledge of chocolate processing, formulation and scale-up
• Hands-on pilot plant and factory trial experience
• Strong problem-solving and technical troubleshooting capability
• Experience working cross-functionally within fast-paced innovation environments
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• Passion for innovation, sustainability and emerging food technologies

This is an exciting opportunity to join a forward-thinking business working on transformational innovation projects with genuine global impact.