Job Summary
Are you ready to Design the future of Taste? Come join the Re-Imagine Protein™ team at International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc.As a leading creator of flavor solutions for beverages, sweet goods, savory and dairy products around the world, IFF helps our customers deliver on the promise of delicious foods and beverages that consumer’s love. Our people—passionate, creative, and experts in their fields—combine creativity, brand understanding and consumer insights with a strong foundation in R&D and innovation to bring our customers unique offerings that differentiate their products in the marketplace.
IFF’s Re-Imagine™ programs accelerate innovation to capture unmet opportunities in the changing food and beverage market. Based on a combination of future trends analysis, consumer insights, and a modernized cross-category development process, the programs guide the Company’s research and development efforts to ensure an innovation pipeline.
As global flavorist for the Re-Imagine Protein™ Program, you will discover and design technologies to address increased consumer desire for alternative (plant-based) protein foods, thereby helping customers develop foods that reduce livestock (dairy and meat) in the food chain.
You will partner with the Innovation Program Director and Innovation Core Team, demonstrating creative leadership to guide R&D ingredient development. It will be your responsibility to manage successful transitions of new technologies to flavorists on a global basis. Cross-category experience in flavor creation is important. You will have a good understanding of the dynamic marketplace, be proactive in nature, and have a passion for exploring new flavor and food materials.
Working in a team environment, IFF will be looking for you to drive innovation and creativity, hereby assisting our customers to enhance their existing product line and successfully launch new products in the marketplace. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is looking to advance their career with one of the largest and most innovative flavor creation houses in the world.
Key Responsibilities:
- Direct flavor(-related) food and technology development for Re-Imagine Protein™ program
- Manage stage gate process at intersection between R&D, Innovation Program Directors and commercial Flavorists to ensure optimal delivery of new ingredients and technologies
- Interact with broad range of stakeholders, including Science partners, R&D, commercial flavorists, regulatory, operations, and external partners
- Manage and execute promotion/training of new technologies to teams globally
- Provide cross-functional leadership within global project teams, working closely together with project management office
- Understand regional taste differences and preferences. Use this knowledge to guide new ingredient and technology delivery
- Interact with key customers regionally and globally to understand requirements and build solid relationships
- Utilize and promote IFF technology to deliver unique solutions to the marketplace
- Participate in development programs for both trainee & associate Flavorists
- Maintain safe work practices
Job Requirements
Essential experience:
- Cross-category experience (Savory, dairy and/or beverages), preferably in commercial food company
- Experience with flavor creation in multiple countries and/or regions
Preferred experience:
- At least 10 years’ experience in flavor industry creative function (entry level through Flavorist)
Essential Skills:
- Four Year Degree (BSc in biological, food technology or chemical science)
- Good tasting skills and the excellent ability to create and adjust flavor formulations that meet the taste requirements of customers and consumers
- Ability to build relationships with internal and external customers and present new capabilities
- Proven Presentation and Project Management skills
- Extensive knowledge of raw materials and flavor ingredients, flavor formulations, solvent and carrier systems, delivery systems, analytical methodologies and regulatory requirements
- Proven successful working with flavorists and sensory experts
- Exploratory mindset, problem solving skills
- Drive for results, taking ownership and not afraid to go the “extra mile”
- Ability to work in a geographically distributed matrix organization
- Excellent communication, computer and math skills
- Fluent in English. Additional languages highly desirable
Preferred Skills:
- MSc/PhD in biological, food technology or chemical sciences
- Influencing leadership/communication skills demonstrated at high levels with key customers on a global level
- Proven experience in agile leadership and/or behavioral traits
Highly Preferred Skills:
- Completed qualifying Flavorist training Program and/or proven track record at equivalent level with competitor
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.