CTI Dry Application Senior Specialist

AFB International

Aurora (MO)

On-site

USD 80,000 - 100,000

Full time

14 days+

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Job summary

A leading global pet food company is seeking a CTI Dry Application Senior Specialist in Aurora, MO. This role involves applying scientific knowledge in dry pet food to enhance product offerings and support sales. Candidates should have a strong background in pet food manufacturing, proven project leadership abilities, and excellent communication skills. The position offers full-time employment within a dynamic R&D team.

Qualifications

FMCG technical background in Pet, Food and/or Beverages.
Minimum 5 years of R&D in Product Development/Manufacturing.
Experience in flavor, nutrition, processing engineering and/or animal sciences.

Responsibilities

Develop and introduce new products in pilot plants.
Provide technical support through customer interactions.
Conduct local field trials.

Skills

Knowledge in dry pet food manufacturing

Technical lead on complex projects

Ability to work with customers

Partner with Marketing and Sales

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Food & Chemical Sciences or Engineering

Master’s Degree Preferred

Job description

Overview

Join to apply for the CTI Dry Application Senior Specialist role at AFB International

AFB International is a global science and technology leader in pet food palatability, developing and producing a full range of liquid and dry palatability enhancers. As an expert in pet food, AFB International partners with pet food manufacturers to create better-tasting dog and cat foods, treats and supplements, meeting the needs of pets and their owners. The company is part of Ensign-Bickford Industries, Inc. (EBI), a privately-owned high technology conglomerate, with offices and/or production facilities in the USA (global HQ), Europe, Latin America, Mexico, Australia and China.

As our CTI Dry Application Senior Specialist, you will be part of the R&D customer-facing team, also known as the Customer Technical Insights (CTI) team, applying your scientific and technical knowledge in dry pet food to grow our dry application palatants business. You will provide guidance and support to Sales and Marketing colleagues as well as external customers to improve their business and maximize collaboration opportunities. You will lead or collaborate on projects with the Science & Technology team to find solutions that meet customer needs, have opportunities to present at conferences, and join Sales colleagues when visiting customers. You will be the R&D backbone for our dry pet application related activities and report to the Head of Customer Technical Insights of your region.

Your opportunity within AFB International

The CTI teams in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America have an international scope. The team thinks and executes against the broader global strategy while engaging other technical and non-technical functions (marketing, sales, quality, R&D) to leverage expertise to maximize project success, bring new insights to customers, and translate customer roadmaps into potential new technology developments. Focusing on local customers, the team aims to execute flawlessly to achieve both financial and market share objectives.

Your experience should demonstrate:

Knowledge in dry pet food manufacturing, ingredients and process conditions
Technical lead on highly complex projects to identify solutions, deliver innovation and renovation portfolios, as well as optimization/improvement projects
Ability to work directly with customers, on an as-requested basis, to understand back-of-house operations, customer requests and needs, and solve technical challenges
Partner with Marketing and/or Sales to leverage and translate consumer insight into project pipelines

Key Responsibilities

Development & introduction of new product and processes in pilot plant, factories and external parties aiming at fine tuning dry pet food palatant solutions in final application (kibble, chunk, gravy, gels)
Leverage knowhow from Science & Technology to build insights and identify opportunities to grow the palatants portfolio for dry pet food applications
Provide technical support through customer interactions, on-site customer training, and handling customer inquiries, by continuously improving/optimizing current product and processes to business needs and supply situation and/or implementation of initiatives
Lead technical projects including technical assistance, sourcing, quality improvements, compliance, and cost savings. Provide guidance and input to Operations for Production Procedures
Connect with appropriate Key Opinion Leaders and support the creation of interactive and innovative tools in line with evolving customer needs
Generate written and oral technical communications including technical papers and presentations at professional meetings; ensure technical accuracy of promotional communications
Conduct local field trials

Your Qualifications

FMCG technical background in Pet, Food and/or Beverages, with experience in visiting customers
Minimum 5 years of R&D in Product Development/Manufacturing/Research & Development
Preferably in the area of flavor, nutrition, processing engineering and/or animal sciences
Bachelor’s Degree in Food & Chemical Sciences or Engineering, Nutrition. Master’s Degree Preferred
Pet Food manufacturing experience is valued but not limiting
Strong drive and result focus combined with entrepreneurial and innovative mindset
Excellent communication skills with good sense of teamwork, networking skills and sharing culture
Fluent in English (oral and written), at ease in international environment. Other languages are a plus

Competences & other