Savory Flavor Scientist — R&D, Modulators, Growth

Wellington Executive Search; Downers Grove (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401K with company match

Job summary

The Flavorist / Flavor Chemist role is on-site in the western Chicagoland suburbs near O'Hare, focusing on developing savory flavors and taste modulators for food products. You will test, optimize, and document flavor systems while collaborating with R&D, Quality, and Marketing to meet customer needs.

The ideal candidate has a Bachelor’s in food science, chemistry, or biochemistry with 5+ years in savory flavor creation; strong flavor chemistry, sensory evaluation, and regulatory knowledge are

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in food science, chemistry, or related field; master’s preferred.
• At least 5 years of experience in flavor creation with savory focus.
• Knowledge of taste modulators (umami enhancers, salt reducers, blockers, etc.).
• Membership in flavorist organizations or apprenticeships preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develops, tests, and refines savory flavors and modulators for various food applications.
• Evaluates raw materials and understands flavor chemistry and sensory profiles.
• Ensures compliance with global food safety and labeling standards.
• Collaborates with internal teams to translate briefs into flavor solutions.
• Maintains project records, formulas, and technical reports.
• Stays current with market trends and new ingredient technologies.

Skills

Sensory evaluation

Taste/smell acuity

Flavor chemistry

Maillard reactions

Lipid oxidation

Raw materials knowledge

Problem-solving

Project management

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Formulation software

Microsoft Office

Laboratory equipment

Task prioritization

Education

Bachelor’s degree in food science/chemistry/biochemistry

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Formulation software

Laboratory equipment

Job description

The Flavorist / Flavor Chemist role is on-site in the western Chicagoland suburbs near O'Hare, focusing on developing savory flavors and taste modulators for food products. You will test, optimize, and document flavor systems while collaborating with R&D, Quality, and Marketing to meet customer needs.

The ideal candidate has a Bachelor’s in food science, chemistry, or biochemistry with 5+ years in savory flavor creation; strong flavor chemistry, sensory evaluation, and regulatory knowledge are