Flavor Chemist

Ajulia Executive Search; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Ajulia Executive Search is seeking a Certified Flavor Chemist to design and evaluate flavor compounds for diverse food and beverage applications in Chicago. You will collaborate across product development, QA, regulatory, marketing, and production to align flavors with safety and consumer preferences.

You will lead formulation projects, conduct sensory testing, ensure regulatory labeling, and mentor junior staff while staying current with industry trends and supplier innovations.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of flavor development experience; certified member of the Society of Flavor Chemists.
• Degree in Food Science or related field.
• Experience with reaction flavors, scaling, and pilot plant work.
• Proficiency in flavor ingredient labeling and regulatory compliance.
• Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills; ability to work independently and in fast-paced teams.

Responsibilities

• Flavor Formulation — Develop new flavor profiles for food and beverage products aligned with customer specifications and market trends.
• Sensory Testing — Conduct sensory evaluations (quantitative and qualitative) to assess flavor performance in different applications.
• Customer Collaboration — Partner directly with customers to finalize projects and provide technical guidance.
• Industry Trends — Monitor emerging technologies, consumer preferences, and market innovations to drive flavor innovation.
• Quality & Compliance — Ensure formulations meet regulatory requirements, safety standards, and allergen management protocols.
• Documentation — Maintain accurate records of formulations, experimental data, and sensory evaluations.
• Cross-Functional Support — Collaborate with product development, marketing, and production teams to support launches and optimize flavors.
• Troubleshooting — Resolve flavor stability and performance challenges during product development.
• Training — Mentor Flavor Apprentice(s) preparing for Society of Flavor Chemists certification.
• Supplier Collaboration — Work with ingredient suppliers to source high-quality raw materials and explore new flavor ingredients.

Skills

Flavor formulation

Sensory testing

Regulatory compliance

Communication

Project coordination

Education

Degree in Food Science or related field

Tools

Excel

Sage X3

E-Book File

Job description

The Certified Flavor Chemist is responsible for formulating, testing, and evaluating flavor compounds and blends to meet diverse product and client needs. This role collaborates with product development, quality assurance, regulatory, marketing, and production teams to ensure all flavor formulations align with industry standards, safety regulations, and consumer preferences.

Key Responsibilities

• Flavor Formulation — Develop new flavor profiles for food and beverage products aligned with customer specifications and market trends.
• Sensory Testing — Conduct sensory evaluations (quantitative and qualitative) to assess flavor performance in different applications.
• Customer Collaboration — Partner directly with customers to finalize projects and provide technical guidance.
• Industry Trends — Monitor emerging technologies, consumer preferences, and market innovations to drive flavor innovation.
• Quality & Compliance — Ensure formulations meet regulatory requirements, safety standards, and allergen management protocols.
• Documentation — Maintain accurate records of formulations, experimental data, and sensory evaluations.
• Cross‑Functional Support — Collaborate with product development, marketing, and production teams to support launches and optimize flavors.
• Troubleshooting — Resolve flavor stability and performance challenges during product development.
• Training — Mentor Flavor Apprentice(s) preparing for Society of Flavor Chemists certification.
• Supplier Collaboration — Work with ingredient suppliers to source high‑quality raw materials and explore new flavor ingredients.

Qualifications

• Degree in Food Science, Physical Sciences, or related field.
• 7+ years of flavor development experience; certified member of the Society of Flavor Chemists.
• Experience with reaction flavors, scaling, and pilot plant work.
• Proficiency in flavor ingredient labeling and regulatory compliance.
• Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills; ability to work independently and in fast‑paced teams.
• Technical proficiency with Excel, Word, Access, and comfort with new systems; preferred experience with Sage X3, E‑Book File, Product Vision.