Senior Food Scientist

ofi North America (Olam Food Ingredients); Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid volunteer time off

401(k) match on day one

Comprehensive benefits including health support

Job summary

ofi North America (Olam Food Ingredients) is seeking a Senior Food Scientist to lead product development for beverage and sweet applications. This role involves managing formulations from bench-top to scale-up, collaborating with various teams, and ensuring compliance with industry standards.

The ideal candidate will have at least 8 years of experience in food science, with a focus on beverage products. The compensation ranges from $90,000 to $120,000 annually, alongside numerous benefits including paid volunteer time and career growth opportunities.

Qualifications

• 8 years of experience in food science, preferably in the beverage industry.
• Experience in developing and launching beverage products.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and formulation design.

Responsibilities

• Perform product development for beverages and sweet applications.
• Manage scale-up of formulations to pilot plant and plant trials.
• Ensure product developments meet food safety and industry standards.

Skills

Product scale-up and commercialization

Sensory testing

Food safety standards

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Food Science/Technology

Master’s degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

SAP

CRM systems

Job description

Overview

Description We are a global leader in food & beverage ingredients. We operate at the forefront of consumer trends to provide food & beverage manufacturers with products and ingredients that will delight their consumers. Our goal is to make a positive impact on people and the planet, with a deep-rooted presence in regions where our ingredients are grown. We aim to supply products and ingredients at scale and add value through a 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 Sr. Innovation Manager, the Senior Food Scientist will be responsible for product development and innovation activities from bench top to scale-up of formulations in the Beverage and Sweet categories, and will support other innovation application categories. The Senior Food Scientist will collaborate with OFI Ingredient and Culinary teams to provide solutions for customer projects and will support customers as well as Olam teams on-site or at customer facilities within North America.

Responsibilities

• Perform product development activities focused on beverages and sweet applications such as spreads, syrups, ice cream and other dairy-based products.
• Manage the scale-up of bench-top formulations to pilot plant and plant trials.
• Collaborate with ingredient specialists in the Cocoa, Nuts, Spices and Coffee teams to design best-in-class product formulations that meet customer expectations.
• Design formulations for customer and trade show demonstrations that showcase current trends and new ingredient technologies.
• Develop formulations and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that meet the sensorial, stability, nutritional and regulatory demands of customers.
• Conduct routine bench-top analytical testing and communicate findings with teams.
• Maintain thorough records of product formulations, specifications, and nutritional calculations in a database and track projects through CRM systems.
• Work with ingredient suppliers to determine optimum ingredients for finished product formulations and evaluate options on bench-top formulas.
• Build insights from development learnings to accelerate product development timelines.
• Ensure all product developments meet required food safety, consumer and industry standards.
• Scale benchtop products to trial and production quantities; attend plant trials and complete relevant documents.
• Ensure all projects are completed within budget and on time.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Position Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Food Science/Technology, Food Engineering or related field; Master’s degree preferred.
• Eight (8) years of experience in food science; experience in beverage industry preferred.
• Experience in development and launch of beverage products beyond simple prototypes; understanding plant processing and formulation design accordingly.
• Expertise in product scale-up and commercialization from bench-top formulations.
• Strong understanding of general sensory testing and its application to product development.
• Experience with manufacturing processes, ingredients, and equipment.
• Strong written and oral communication and interpersonal skills to work with external customers and colleagues; ability to communicate with leadership.
• Ability to conduct experimental design tests and report results to management.
• Strong computer skills; experience with Microsoft Office, SAP, CRM, Genesis or similar systems preferred.
• Ability and willingness to travel 20%–25%.

Compensation & Benefits

Pay range for this role is $90,000 – $120,000 annually, based on responsibilities and geographic location. Actual pay may be determined by experience and qualifications. Performance-based bonuses are discretionary and reward company performance as well as individual contributions for eligible roles. Comprehensive benefits are provided to support career, health, and future. Paid volunteer time off, and resources for well-being are available. Vacation time starts accruing from day one; paid sick leave, holidays, and 401(k) match on day one are offered. Opportunities for career growth and learning are provided.

Note: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Equal opportunity employment statement applies; individuals are considered based on qualifications, merit and business need. If an accommodation is needed due to disability, contact support at: [email protected]