Job Description: Senior Flavor Application Scientist
Are you a Master of Flavor? Join Our Innovative Food Science Team!
Mars Food & Nutrition is seeking a highly skilled and innovative Senior Flavor Application Scientist to join our Science & Technology (S&T) team. This role is crucial for advancing our global initiatives by leveraging scientific expertise in the application of flavor and texture ingredients in food matrix to achieve desired product performance.
As a Senior Flavor Application Scientist, you will be instrumental in managing science projects that create flavor and texture toolboxes to unlock the next generation of delicious foods with customized flavors and textures.
If you have a solid background in applications of flavor and functional ingredients in food formulation and processing, we want you!
Bring your flavor & texture expertise in ready-to-heat meals, sauces, and dressings to our dynamic team.
Apply now and revolutionize the future of food!
What are your Key Responsibilities?
- Collaborate with the Science Platform Lead to shape, develop, and execute science projects aligned with our S&T strategy.
- Provide technical leadership on flavor drivers, functional ingredients and product performance across portfolio of products in Mars Food & Nutrition.
- Establish and manage science projects both internally and with external research partners.
- Lead cross-functional initiatives with internal and external collaborators, ensuring effective project organization and timely updates.
- Influence senior stakeholders for project and platform steering and decision-making.
- Manage projects through the stage-gate process, including budgeting, reporting, knowledge capture, and CAPEX input.
- Generate new intellectual property (IP) for the company and manage IP portfolios, including securing patents and ensuring compliance.
- Lead lab and pilot-scale trials, demonstrating strong organizational and planning skills.
- Communicate project and technical findings effectively to inform and influence key stakeholders.
- Write high-quality technical reports and literature reviews with minimal guidance,
- Mentor junior colleagues and contribute to the development of a high-performing global S&T team.
What are we looking for?
- Master's degree in food science, chemistry or technology or related fields is required; a PhD is preferred.
- Minimum of 5 years’ experience post-PhD or 7 years post-master’s, with minimum 3 years in Food industry is a must!
- Strong understanding of food flavor, texture and functional food ingredients,
- Demonstrated experience in application of flavor and functional ingredients in food formulation, various manufacturing processes and its impact on product performance.
- Knowledge of methods for product performance and sensory evaluations.
- Solid project management skills, including the ability to influence and communicate complex information to diverse stakeholders.
- Strong stakeholder management and networking skills, with the ability to connect with internal and external partners like universities, agencies and start-ups.
- Collaborative mindset to lead in a multidisciplinary environment.
- Excellent English verbal and written communication skills.
- Strong problem-solving abilities and attention to detail.
- Experience with ready-to-heat meals, sauces, and dressings is a plus.
Travel Requirements
- This global role requires ad-hoc travel, approximately 20% - 30% (domestic and international), particularly during peak project cycles.
- Ability to work across time zones and hold a passport with necessary visas for relevant countries is mandatory.
Mars is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.
About Mars:
Mars is a family-owned business with more than $35 billion in global sales. We produce some of the world’s best-loved brands: M&M’s®, SNICKERS®, TWIX®, MILKY WAY®, DOVE®, PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, EXTRA®, ORBIT®, 5™, SKITTLES®, BEN’S ORIGINAL® and COCOAVIA®. Alongside our consumer brands, we proudly take care of half of the world’s pets through our nutrition, health and services businesses such as Banfield Pet Hospitals™, BluePearl®, Linnaeus, AniCura, VCA™ and Pet Partners™.Headquartered in McLean, VA, Mars operates in more than 80 countries. The Mars Five Principles – Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom – inspire our 130,000 Associates into taking action every day towards creating the world we want tomorrow.
Note to Search Firms/Agencies:
Mars, Incorporated and its subsidiaries and affiliates (Mars) do not compensate search firms for unsolicited assistance unless they have a written search agreement with Mars and the requisition is position-specific. Any resumes, curriculum vitae, and other unsolicited assistance from search firms that do not have a written search agreement or position-specific requisition submitted to any Associate of Mars will be deemed the sole property of Mars and no fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Mars.
