Senior Food Scientist

Tootsie Roll Industries; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading candy manufacturer in Chicago is seeking a Senior Food Scientist to drive product innovation and oversee the development process. The position requires a strong background in food science with at least 8 years in the Consumer Packaged Goods sector and 3-5 years specifically in confectionery. The right candidate will excel in project management and communication, working closely with various teams to ensure product success. This is an exciting opportunity to lead significant corporate R&D projects.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 8 years of experience in Consumer Packaged Goods food technology.
• 3-5 years in confectionery product development and commercialization.
• Ability to meet tight deadlines and manage multiple projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead new product development from concept to commercialization.
• Collaborate with various teams to ensure product quality and success.
• Manage optimization projects for existing products.

Skills

Problem solving

Project management

Communication

Multi-tasking

Collaboration

Education

BS degree in Food Science, Food Engineering or related field

MS degree preferred

Job description

The Senior Food Scientist will be the technical lead for new product innovation. This person will be responsible for working with brand manager and the plant on every stage of new product development from concept generation to commercialization. In addition, the candidate will aid the director of R&D with the execution of corporate R&D projects. This position will report to the Director of R&D.

New Product Development

• Leads the development of projects from benchtop development through pilot plant scale up, factory scale-up, and commercialization.
• Responsible for commercialization of new and reformulated products and successful transition from development to production
• Designs and conduct lab tests, pilot plant and large-scale tests within manufacturing facilities to optimize formulation and/or process
• Collaborates with Brand Manager and Senior Consumer Insights Analyst to develop robust innovation pipeline
• Identifies and explores new and enabling technologies
• Monitors domestic and global trends related to flavors and ingredients for candy/confections
• Manages multiple projects at once with minimal supervisor guidance using clear communication, prioritization, and multitasking skills
• Ensures all products meet Tootsie Roll Industries quality standards and shelf-life requirements.
• Works closely with Process Engineers, Marketing, Quality, and Manufacturing in project execution and problem solving.

Corporate Projects

• Is the R&D technical lead for continuous improvement/optimization projects for existing products
• Manages development of R&D processes and ensures cross functional adherence

Qualifications

• Minimum of 8 years of Consumer Packaged Goods food technology experience
• BS degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, Chemical Engineering or related field. MS degree preferred
• 3 – 5 years hands‑on experience in a confectionery product development and commercialization role is required.
• Self‑motivated problem solver and the drive to deliver objectives in a complex environment
• Excellent verbal and written communication
• Ability to learn new products and processes quickly
• Highly efficient at planning and staying on tight timelines and planning projects accordingly.