Master Data Specialist

ofi North America (Olam Food Ingredients); Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 79,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) match starting Day 1

Paid vacation accrued from Day 1

Comprehensive health benefits

Job summary

ofi North America (Olam Food Ingredients) is looking for a Master Data Specialist to bridge R&D food product development and IT. This role requires a detail-oriented individual to manage ingredient data, ensuring its accuracy and organization for the New Product Development team.

Candidates should possess a Bachelor’s degree and have at least 3 years of experience in data management. The position offers a salary range of $79,000 to $105,000 annually, along with comprehensive health benefits and performance-based bonuses.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in master data management, preferably in the food or CPG industry.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Experience managing complex datasets and ensuring data accuracy across multiple platforms.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain a centralized digital repository for ingredients and recipes.
• Collaborate with Food Scientists and culinary teams during product development.
• Support nutrition labeling by calculating values based on ingredient data.

Skills

Data Management

Analytical Skills

Communication

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Data Management, or a related field

Tools

Specright

SAP

Plex

Genesis

Job description

We are a global leader in food & beverage ingredients. Pioneers at heart, we operate at the forefront of consumer trends to provide manufacturers with products and ingredients that delight their consumers. We make a positive impact on people and planet, and we are closer to farmers in the countries where our ingredients are grown, enabling better quality, more reliable, traceable, and transparent supply. Through our complementary portfolio of natural, delicious, and nutritious products, we help customers unleash the sensory and functional attributes of cocoa, coffee, dairy, nuts, and spices to create naturally good food & beverage products that meet consumer expectations.

Position Summary

Reporting to the VP Innovation and Head of NA CSC, we seek a detail‑oriented and systems‑savvy Master Data Specialist to bridge Research & Development (R&D) food product development and Information Technology. The role ensures all ingredient data, recipes, formulations, specifications, and development documentation are accurately captured, structured, and accessible, supporting the New Product Development (NPD) team by building and maintaining digital systems that organize critical technical information.

Position Responsibilities

• Data & Knowledge Management
  • Build, maintain, and continuously improve a centralized digital repository for ingredients, recipes, formulations, and process documentation.
  • Create standardized naming conventions, metadata structures, and version‑control processes for all R&D documents.
  • Ensure proper storage and linkage of ingredient specifications, COAs, nutritional data, allergen information, and regulatory documents.
  • Maintain accurate version histories for formulas, prototypes, and scale‑up iterations.
  • Partner with IT to configure or optimize PLM, ERP, or R&D data systems.
• Support for Food Innovation & New Product Development
  • Collaborate with Food Scientists, Product Developers, and culinary teams to capture formulation changes, prototype notes, sensory results, and scale‑up learnings.
  • Document new ingredients, technologies, and processes evaluated during product development.
  • Ensure all product specifications and development records comply with food safety and regulatory requirements.
  • Translate R&D insights into structured data usable by Operations, QA, Regulatory, and Supply Chain.
• Systems & Technology Integration
  • Serve as the R&D team’s point of contact for IT regarding system improvements, data migration, and digital tool adoption.
  • Evaluate and recommend digital tools for recipe management, ingredient tracking, and documentation workflows.
  • Train R&D staff on proper use of data systems and documentation standards.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration
  • Collaborate with Marketing, Operations, QA, Regulatory, and Procurement to ensure data accuracy and alignment across departments.
  • Support handoff of finalized formulas and specifications to manufacturing and commercialization teams.
  • Work with suppliers to collect and maintain up‑to‑date ingredient documentation.
• Ingredient and Recipe Documentation
  • Maintain and update ingredient and recipe records in Specright, SAP, Plex, and Genesis.
  • Ensure completeness and accuracy of data, including processing steps, part divisions, and scale‑up readiness.
  • Create and manage product and ingredient specifications, including nutritional and allergen information.
  • Coordinate and validate Certificates of Analysis (COAs) from suppliers and internal labs.
  • Support nutrition labeling by calculating values based on ingredient data and recipe formulations.
  • Collaborate with Supply Chain and external partners on third‑party ingredient data integration.
• System Support and Data Governance
  • Serve as a subject‑matter expert for master data systems, support users, and troubleshoot issues.
  • Participate in data governance initiatives, define data readiness criteria, and manage data lifecycle.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Position Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Data Management, or a related field.
• 3+ years of experience in master data management, preferably in the food or CPG industry.
• Proficiency with Specright, SAP, Plex, Genesis.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• Experience managing complex datasets and ensuring data accuracy across multiple platforms.
• Supporting cross‑functional teams including R&D, Quality, Procurement, and Regulatory Affairs.
• Familiarity with product lifecycle management (PLM) and specification systems.
• Ability to proactively identify data issues and implement corrective actions.
• Comfortable working in a fast‑paced, deadline‑driven environment with shifting priorities.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

Benefits

• Salary: $79,000 – $105,000 annually, based on responsibilities and location.
• Performance‑based discretionary bonus.
• 401(k) match starting Day 1.
• Paid vacation accrued from Day 1 and increases with tenure.
• Paid sick leave.
• Paid company holidays.
• Paid volunteer time off.
• Paid parental leave, fertility benefits, and lactation support.
• Comprehensive health benefits for employees and eligible dependents.

Equal Opportunity Statement

ofi provides equality of opportunity for all persons with respect to hiring without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation. All employment will be decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, contact us at [e-mail].

Note: This job description is not intended to be all‑inclusive. Employees may perform other related duties as negotiated to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.