Application Scientist

Ddwcolor; Louisville, Northern (KY, KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Givaudan Sense Colour is seeking a dedicated R&D color expert to develop and evaluate color solutions for food systems, transforming customer requests into practical color applications. The role requires strong experimental design, data interpretation, and excellent written and verbal communication to support sales and regulatory teams.

You will collaborate with internal scientists and external partners to drive new product development from benchtop to production, while maintaining GLP standards

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Food Science or related field required.
• R&D experience in food applications is a strong plus.
• Ability to plan and execute experimental design to achieve objectives.
• High standards for laboratory safety, protocols and GLP compliance.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, with cross-functional teams.
• Collaborative mindset with Innovation and other Sense Colour departments.
• Spanish language skills desirable.

Responsibilities

• Develop color solutions using existing Sense Colour products or create new formulations for customers.
• Provide data and reports for customer projects or color approvals.
• Build SME knowledge in one or more food application sectors and apply color to formulations.
• Support customers by addressing color challenges and maintaining strong relationships.
• Lead or participate in new product development, from benchtop to commercialization, coordinating with production and purchasing.
• Collaborate with Regulatory to ensure regional/global compliance and organic/allergen criteria.
• Document trials, ensure traceability, and share results with teams.

Skills

Strong communication

Experimental design

Lab safety & GLP

Collaborative work

Data management

Data interpretation

Bilingual (Spanish)

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Food Science or related

Job description

Purpose

Develop technological expertise in application sectors and be viewed by customers as a technological color expert. Develop and evaluate colors in food systems that best represent customer requests. Develop food applications, utilize food color sensory and analytical sciences to complete customer-specific application projects. Develop new color solutions to grow commercial sales of the Givaudan Sense Colour product portfolio. Present technical aspects of the application of Givaudan Sense Colour's colors to further its image as the “technological natural and caramel color leader.” Collaborate with scientists and industry experts both internally and externally.

Principal Responsibilities

• Uphold Givaudan Sense Colour’s Mission Statement, Safety, Quality Policy, Values, and Beliefs.
• Develop Color Solutions: Utilize existing Givaudan Sense Colour solutions or develop new colors to solve customer product development requirements. Provide data and reports for customer-specific projects or new color approvals.
• Food and Beverage Applications: Develop a practical knowledge of all food and beverage application categories. Become a subject matter expert (SME) in one or more strategic application sectors. Develop and successfully apply color to food formulations. Understand color stability and performance in food applications by designing experiments, collecting data, interpreting results, and writing reports. Ensure reports are readily available as a resource to all in S&I. Conduct sensory testing and application screening to support new color solution development and sales.
• Customer Support: Interact and troubleshoot with customers on color challenges in their food applications. Understand customer cost restraints for color use and timeline for project completion. Foster relationships with peers at key accounts, building the image of Givaudan Sense Colour through you as the technological leader in colors. Develop application knowledge within assigned food categories and become recognized as a color solutions partner by food product developers. Collaborate with sales to enhance the customer experience. Respond to customers with a sense of urgency.
• New Product Development: Develop new color processes and technologies to assist in the development of customers' color requirements. Utilize pilot scale equipment to manufacture customer prototypes. Successfully execute and manage color development from benchtop to commercialization. Engage with production for the development of new products to ensure production efficiency. Engage with finance when needed to develop the most cost-effective formulas and processes. Approve new raw materials and validate development of finished products through appropriate testing. Assist purchasing with the approval of new suppliers. Develop methods relevant to the introduction of new products and/or processes.
• Food Regulatory Compliance: Collaborate with Givaudan Sense Colour’s Global Food Science & Regulatory Manager to ensure applications are acceptable in the regional or global markets where sales are expected, including any special criteria such as organic, allergen, and GM.
• Project Management: Participate or lead designated R&D projects. Ensure appropriate documentation of experimental trials and outcomes to facilitate scale-up and product transfer to manufacturing. Keep good accurate records that are accessible.
• Colorant Knowledge and Expertise: Develop technological expertise in application sectors and enhance your skills to become a technological color expert. Understand physical and chemical properties of colors and raw materials. Increase color knowledge through interactions and collaborations within Givaudan Sense Colour and with external resources like academic experts or other external resources, literature reviews, regulatory monitoring, and laboratory studies. Utilize knowledge to advise on the development of the Givaudan Sense Colour portfolio in addition to building the Givaudan Sense Colour technological leader image within the industry.
• Marketing and Sales Support Training and Materials: Collaborate with marketing to develop food experiences with colors for customers. Provide application data and related conclusions to marketing to develop sales support information. Originate science-based tools to convey product offerings and advantages to increase color sales. Prepare, organize, and present technical or application seminars to customers as requested by Sales or Marketing.
• Quality Focus: Actively participate in Quality Improvement.
• Laboratory Protocols: Ensure that Good Laboratory Practices and Lab Protocols are being met. Evolve record documentation and methodology into appropriate database. Maintain the calibration of laboratory instruments, proper calibration records, and laboratory supply stock.
• Work Environment: Maintain a clean and orderly work environment (lab, pilot plant, and storage areas) following Good Laboratory Practices and Good Manufacturing Practices.
• Safety: Ensure work is performed in a safe and environmentally sound manner. Take ownership for proactively eliminating all unsafe conditions and risk behaviors. Promote safe lab practices among peers.
• Academic Relationships: Develop strong relationships with selected academic researchers and universities to strengthen the use of application abilities and pilot plant capabilities to strengthen Givaudan Sense Colour as the technological color leader. Leverage relationships to identify potential new hires and/or resources that may be valuable to Givaudan Sense Colour.
• Other: Prepare samples, documentation, and shipping documents.

Competency Requirements

• Integrity/Ethics
• Quality
• Vision and Values
• Job Knowledge
• Work Environment/Safety
• Adaptability
• Communication
• Decision Making/Judgment
• Results Focus

Skill Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Food Science or related degree.
• R&D experience required; food applications background a strong plus.
• Capable of planning and executing experimental design to achieve desired research objectives.
• High standards for laboratory safety programs, lab protocols, and Good Laboratory Practices.
• Strong communication skills – both oral and written.
• Extremely collaborative with Innovation and other Givaudan Sense Colour Departments.
• Computer literate, data documentation, management of experimental projects.
• Capable of interpreting data to make business recommendations.
• Bilingual (Spanish) desirable.

Physical Demands

• Occasional global travel may be required.
• Physically capable of conducting pilot plant equipment trials which may include lifting.