Flavorist

Optify Search; United States; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Optify Search is seeking a Flavorist for a leading Global Flavour & Fragrance Manufacturer. Join a world-class innovation team creating market-leading flavour solutions for global customers.

You will lead flavour development, conduct sensory analysis, and collaborate across Sales, Quality, Regulatory, and Operations to deliver compliant, innovative products.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science or related field.
• Recognition of Flavorist training programmes (eg ISIPCA, Symrise Flavor Academy).
• Minimum 5 years in flavour creation, product development and customer-focused innovation.
• Strong flavour chemistry knowledge, raw materials, and sensory science.
• Experience balancing development projects with commercial goals.
• HACCP/GLP understanding and food manufacturing familiarity.
• Fluent English, written and verbal.

Responsibilities

• Create innovative flavour formulations and modify existing flavours to meet briefs and trends.
• Manage flavour development projects from concept to production transfer.
• Conduct flavour evaluation, profiling, and sensory analysis.
• Collaborate with Sales, Category Management, Procurement, Quality, Regulatory, and Ops.
• Support innovation via formula optimization, cost-reduction and new tech adoption.
• Ensure regulatory compliance and safety standards across creations.

Skills

Flavour chemistry

Sensory analysis

Project management

Regulatory compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Food Science

Flavorist training programme

Job description

Optify Search are currently partnered with a leading Global Flavour & Fragrance Manufacturer seeking a Flavorist. This is an exciting opportunity to join a world-class innovation team responsible for developing market-leading flavour solutions for global customers.

Responsibilities for this role include (but are not limited to):

• Create innovative flavour formulations and modify existing flavours to meet customer briefs, market trends, and internal innovation objectives across a variety of applications.
• Manage flavour development projects from concept through commercialization, including sensory evaluation, prototype development, stability testing, shelf-life assessments, and final formula transfer to production.
• Conduct flavour evaluation, flavour profiling, and sensory analysis to ensure superior product performance and customer satisfaction.
• Collaborate closely with Sales, Category Management, Procurement, Quality, Regulatory, and Operations teams, while providing technical support during customer meetings and presentations.
• Support innovation initiatives through formula optimization, cost reduction projects, raw material substitution, flavour linearization, and the implementation of new product development technologies.
• Ensure all flavour creations comply with regulatory requirements, flavour creation guidelines, HACCP principles, Good Laboratory Practices (GLP), and company safety standards.

To be considered for the role, the following education, experience and qualifications are required:

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Flavour Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related scientific discipline.
• Completion of a recognised Flavorist training programme (e.g. ISIPCA, Symrise Flavor Academy, or equivalent industry training).
• Minimum 5 years of professional experience within the flavour industry, including experience in flavour creation, product development, and customer-focused innovation.
• Strong understanding of flavour chemistry, flavour raw materials, sensory science, flavour interactions, and flavour creation techniques.
• Proven experience managing development projects, balancing technical excellence with commercial objectives.
• Knowledge of HACCP, GLP, regulatory requirements, and food manufacturing processes.
• Fluent English communication skills, both written and verbal. Additional language capabilities are advantageous.

This role offers a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits package, exposure to global customers and brands, and strong career progression opportunities within a market-leading organisation.

About Optify Search

Optify Search is a leading executive search and selection business. From our office in London, we provide retained and contingency recruitment solutions across the Healthcare, Ingredients, Chemicals, Contract Manufacturing, Packaging, Flavours & Fragrances, Food & Beverage, and Semiconductor sectors.