Job Summary
IFF, a global leader in dairy solutions, is looking for a dynamic and enthusiastic candidate with a strong commercial acumen to fill the role of Senior Application Specialist in our North America’s Application team in Madison, Wisconsin. We are looking for an experienced candidate with a proven track record of managing independent and cross-functional projects and making an impact with customers. As a Senior application specialist, you will be responsible for providing technical support and expertise to our customers and distributors in the Dairy industry, with a focus on the use of cultures in fermented dairy and plant-based products such as Yoghurt, Cheeses, Cottage Cheese, Cream Cheese, Butter milk, and Sour cream. You will collaborate with internal and external technical experts, understand, and communicate market trends, market gaps, and identify new opportunities for IFF products and solutions. You will be part of a dynamic and diverse team that is enthusiastic about being the premier partner with our customers to create joyful, healthy and sustainable dairy products for consumers around the world.
Job Responsibilities
- Project leader for diverse project portfolio including technical sales support for the application of Dairy and plant-based cultures in fermented dairy products, customer plant trial and troubleshooting, technical trainer, new product development, new method development.
- Design and conduct experiments to evaluate the performance and functionality of dairy cultures in different fermented dairy product matrices and processing conditions.
- The experiment work will involve conducting laboratory and pilot plant scale trials at various IFF locations, as well as commercial scale trials at customer plants.
- Develop and improve finished product formulations using knowledge of industrial standards and customer requirements.
- Prepare and present technical reports, presentations and innovative product demonstrations to customers and internal stakeholders.
- Interact closely with customers and distributors to understand their needs and challenges and provide technical support and guidance on the use of IFF cultures in fermented dairy products.
- Work closely with R&D, product managers, and marketing to convey customer feedback on their challenges and emerging needs and guiding the development of new solutions.
- Keep abreast of the latest scientific and technological developments in the field of dairy culture and identify new opportunities for innovation and improvement.
- Work in tandem with internal and external technical experts, such as global application teams, R&D, sales, product managers, marketing, and regulatory, to exchange knowledge, best practices, and insights concerning the fermented dairy market and applications.
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with the external academic authority in the field and influencers in the dairy industry, and position IFF as a trusted partner and solution provider.
- Participate in trade shows, seminars, webinars, and other events to promote IFF's technical capabilities and product offerings.
- Travel throughout USA and occasionally to Canada to visit customers and distributors, and support IFF's Dairy culture business.
Job Qualification and Requirements
- PhD or MSc with 3+ years or BSc with 9+ years relevant production or product development work experience in the dairy industry.
- Candidates must be authorized to work in the US without sponsorship.
- Educational knowledge and industry experience of working with food microbiology, fermented dairy production processes, product formulations, dairy ingredients, quality parameters and preferably familiarity with IFF's portfolio of dairy cultures.
- Previous industry experience in yoghurt and / or cheese manufacturing will be well regarded.
- Hands-on experience in laboratory and pilot plant equipment and techniques relevant to fermented dairy process (Yoghurt, Cheeses, Cottage Cheese, Cream Cheese, Butter milk, and Sour cream).
- Strong technical skills and problem-solving abilities, with attention to detail and customer satisfaction.
- Commercial acumen and proven ability to balance technical needs with commercial needs.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills, both verbal and written, in English.
- Ability to deliver results within tight timelines in a fast-paced environment.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team, with an initiative-taking and customer-oriented mindset.
- The ability to travel up to 20 to 50% of the time and adapt to different work cultures and environments.
Why Join IFF?
- Be a part of a team contributing to a safer, healthier, and more sustainable world.
- Be part of a global company that champions innovation and creativity in developing dairy ingredients to bring everyday joy to the consumers.
- Collaborate with diverse teams to create essential solutions.
Want to find out more about us?
A global leader in Flavors, Fragrances, Food ingredients, Health and Biosciences, we deliver sustainable innovations that make joy every day. At IFF, we believe that your uniqueness unleashes our potential. Our people represent the mosaic of the markets we serve and are empowered to transform the future. We are committed to having the most diverse workplace in our industry. Equity sets the tone for all that we do in real, tangible ways; how we recruit, hire, train, transfer, promote, and compensate our employees. We strive for an inclusive workplace that allows each of our colleagues to bring their authentic self to work regardless of their religion, gender identity & expression, sexual orientation, or disability.
At IFF, We Make Joy Through Science, Creativity & Heart. With the beauty of art and the precision of science, we are an international collective of thinkers who partner with customers to bring scents, tastes, experiences, ingredients and solutions for products the world craves. As a global leader in Flavors, Fragrances, Food Ingredients, and Health and Biosciences, we deliver groundbreaking, sustainable innovations that elevate everyday products – advancing wellness, delighting the senses and enhancing the human experience. For more than 135 years we have been focused on finding the most innovative solutions to help bring “better for you” products to market. While we have grown over the years, we remain agile in our approach and put our customers’ needs at the forefront of our thinking. We offer end-to-end service that few can deliver on. Our unparalleled product portfolio is the most robust in the industry and we have leadership positions across key taste, texture, scent, nutrition, enzymes, cultures, soy proteins and probiotics categories.
Health and Biosciences is one of the four business divisions within IFF. Inspired by nature and distinguished by its world-class bioscience and microbiome capabilities, IFF's Health & Biosciences (H&B) division is a leading innovation partner for customers across a broad range of consumer products, industrial and agricultural sectors.
With in Health and Biosciences division, Food Biosciences is an important business segment which focuses on Applying the Power of Bioscience to Transform the Food and Beverage Industry. In a world where conscious consumers are seeking healthier, more nutritious, and sustainable food options, the demand for innovation is stronger than ever. Food Biosciences plays a crucial role in turning human creativity and collaboration into practical culture and enzymes-based solutions for the food and beverage industries’ most pressing challenges. We collaborate closely with our customers to enhance products - and their processes - to deliver safer, healthier, joyful and more sustainable solutions. Our Cultures are part of our bioscience solutions that help promote the taste, texture of Fresh Fermented, Cheese, Plant-Based, and Meat products while also reducing food waste during food production.
Please visit Careers & Jobs | IFF to learn more.
Visit Diversity, Equity & Inclusion | IFF to learn more.
We are a global leader in taste, scent, and nutrition, offering our customers a broader range of natural solutions and accelerating our growth strategy. At IFF, we believe that your uniqueness unleashes our potential. We value the diverse mosaic of the ethnicity, national origin, race, age, sex, or veteran status. We strive for an inclusive workplace that allows each of our colleagues to bring their authentic self to work regardless of their religion, gender identity & expression, sexual orientation, or disability.
Visit IFF.com/careers/workplace-diversity-and-inclusion to learn more
