Sr. Manager, Ingredient Applications

The Fynder Group; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

The Fynder Group in Chicago seeks a Sr. Manager, Ingredient Applications to serve as the go-to expert on Fynder Ingredients in food and beverage applications.

You will connect ingredient structure to function, build prototypes, and translate bench insights into commercial results, with ownership and direct access to leadership. You will lead recipe development across bakery, dairy, snacks, and more, design studies, create technical reports, and support sales and regulatory teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science or related field with 8+ years in R&D or applications.
• Hands-on formulation experience across several food and beverage categories at bench, pilot and commercial scale.
• In-depth expertise in ingredient functionality and cross-interactions (proteins, hydrocolloids, starches, emulsifiers, fibers, sweeteners).
• Strong experimental design and structure–function knowledge; patents/publications a plus.
• Experience writing invention disclosures and contributing to patent applications.
• Proven ability to communicate effectively with clients and non-technical stakeholders.
• Proven track record of mentoring and developing technical teams in R&D or applications.

Responsibilities

• Own application development food and beverage concepts to demonstrate Fynder value propositions.
• Develop model food formulations to test functionality and guide new ingredient development.
• Design and run studies on composition, processing history, and matrix interactions across categories.
• Turn data into technical reports, concept sheets, and application case studies.
• Join sales calls and customer visits, explaining technology to R&D and business audiences.
• Serve as a SME for Fynder ingredients and demonstrate data-driven structure–function rules.
• Troubleshoot formulations from bench to pilot and full-scale production with guidance.
• Provide technical data to assist with quality, labeling, and regulatory needs.
• Prepare invention disclosures, assist with patent filings, and perform prior art searches.
• Collaborate with sales, marketing, operations, regulatory, quality, and R&D to bring ingredients to market.
• Stay updated on emerging ingredient technologies and drive continuous product advancement.
• Lead and mentor food scientists, overseeing lab operations and project priorities.

Skills

Food science expertise

Formulation experience

Structure–function knowledge

Experiment design

Mentoring teams

Technical communication

Invention disclosures / patents

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science or related discipline

Master’s degree in Food Science or related, 6+ years in R&D/applications

Job description

The Fynder Group emerged from NASA-funded research in Yellowstone National Park studying extremophiles: microorganisms that thrive where most life reaches its limits. At these extremes, biology revealed a different standard for performance. Inspired by this biology, we rethink what is possible in food, pharmaceuticals, and materials.

We offer a fast-paced, startup environment centered around solving complex, world-changing problems.

Position Summary

The Sr. Manager, Ingredient Applications will be the go-to expert on how Fynder Ingredients perform in food and beverage applications. You will connect ingredient structure to function across food and beverage applications, and turn this understanding into food design rules. You’ll build prototypes that win customers, help brands solve their formulation problems, and turn what we learn at the bench into commercial results. You will bring a hands on approach, a strong foundation in food science and processing, and technical curiosity and knowledge. You’ll have real ownership, direct access to leadership, and the chance to help shape our applications lab, our processes and our product roadmap.

Responsibilities

• Own application development food and beverage concepts to successfully demonstrate the value propositions of Fynder Ingredients.

• Develop model food formulations to test functionality of Fynder applications in a range of applications and provide guidance to R&D teams in new ingredient development and ingredient improvements.

• Design and run studies to evaluate how Fynder ingredient composition, molecular structure, processing history, and matrix interactions influence performance, taste, and texture across diverse food and beverage categories, such as bakery, dairy, snacks, soups, sauces, and dressings.

• Turn the data into clear formulation guidance and go-to-market sales tools including technical reports, concept sheets, technical deep dive application case study presentations.

• Join sales calls, customer visits and trade shows, and explain our technology clearly to both R&D and business audiences.

• Serve as a technical subject matter expert for Fynder ingredients, and demonstrate data-driven structure-function approach and design rules for Fynder ingredients across food and beverage applications.

• Troubleshoot customer formulations and processing problems from bench to pilot and full-scale production, offering data-driven technical guidance, and application expertise.

• Provide technical data on ingredient functionality and application to assist with quality, labeling, and regulatory compliance requirements.

• Prepare invention disclosures, assist with patent filings, and perform prior art searches.

• Work closely with sales, marketing, operations, regulatory, quality, R&D to bring ingredients to the market.

• Stay updated on emerging ingredient technologies and innovations, offering strategic recommendations to drive continuous product advancement.

• Lead and mentor food scientists, overseeing day-to-day lab operations, project prioritization, and professional development.

Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree in Food Science or a related discipline with 8+ years of experience, or a master’s degree with 6+ years working within R&D, technical, or applications development teams at an ingredient supplier.

• In-depth expertise in ingredient functionality and cross-interactions, spanning proteins, hydrocolloids, starches, emulsifiers, fibers, and sweeteners.

• Hands on formulation experience across several food and beverage categories at bench, pilot and commercial scale.

• Strong skills in experimental design, structure-function work, shown through publications, patents and commercialized ingredients.

• Experience in writing invention disclosures and contributing to patent applications.

• Proven ability to communicate effectively, both in writing and verbally, with clients and non-technical stakeholders.

• Proven track record of managing, mentoring, and developing technical teams and scientists in an R&D or applications setting.

Who you are

• Transparent, accountable, and driven by high integrity.

• Entrepreneurial, curious, and passionate about innovation.

• Solution-oriented, proactive, and independent.

• Organized and effective at managing multiple priorities under tight deadlines.

• Clear, effective communicator across cross-functional teams.

• Adaptable and resourceful in fast-paced, ambiguous environments.

• Hands on practitioner who seamlessly transitions from bench work to customer presentations.

• Customer-obsessed and energized by bringing commercial products to market.