Senior Food Technologist

Description

We are a global leader in food & beverage ingredients. Pioneers at heart, we operate at the forefront of consumer trends to provide food & beverage manufacturers with products and ingredients that will delight their consumers. Making a positive impact on people and planet is all part of the delight. With a deep-rooted presence in the countries where our ingredients are grown, we are closer to farmers, enabling better quality, and more reliable, traceable, and transparent supply. Supplying products and ingredients at scale is just the start. We add value through our unique, complementary portfolio of natural, delicious, and nutritious products. With our fresh thinking, we help our customers unleash the sensory and functional attributes of cocoa, coffee, dairy, nuts, and spices so they can create naturally good food & beverage products that meet consumer expectations. And whoever we’re with, whatever we’re doing, we always make it real.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Plant Manager, the Senior Food Technologist will manage innovation, development projects and initiatives for Olam Food Ingredients (ofi). This position will work closely with plant leadership to drive the global strategy and deliver value generating quality solutions. The Senior Food Technologist will work with customers to provide solutions to meet both internal and external customer needs. The Senior Food Technologist will lead and perform the required analysis of the food, ingredients, raw and finished goods, analyze data, interpret results, and write reports. They will also communicate the challenges and opportunities for their specific categories to key stakeholders and to senior management on a regular basis.

The ideal candidate for this position must have a strong background as a Food Technologist focusing on spice blends and seasonings, thermally processes sauces, vegetable and related products. They should be comfortable leading key projects, as well as working independently to ensure deadlines are met. They should work well under multiple competing demands and be able to successfully manage workload.

Position Responsibilities

• Manage innovation projects, communicate, and coordinate with internal stakeholders as well as customers.
• Maintain a thorough understanding of the current food and ingredient trends across our business specifically for retail, private label, and spice blends.
• Perform product development activities focused on developing blends and capsicum products from bench top to commercialization.
• Expertise in the development of spice blends, seasoning, and/or thermally processed sauces, vegetables or other related products.
• Provide information to internal stakeholders to drive the business strategy and deliver value generating innovative solutions.
• Identify opportunities for ingredients, formulation, and process optimization to enhance quality, reduce costs and ensure consistency of Olam products.
• Prepare responses to customer inquiries with adequate scientific and technical evidence and provide solutions.
• Complete the verification of the implementation of standard operating procedures for the laboratory or kitchen facilities.
• Provide expertise in development of new innovative products and solutions within focused category both internally and externally with customers.
• Maintain proficiency in traceability of products via SAP and Ag-insight platforms.
• Responsible for maintaining accurate records of formulations, procedures, and processes in appropriate innovation systems.
• Manage Associate Food Scientists and ensure they perform to expectations of the role required.
• Provide performance development/ training, work delegation and feedback to Food Associate Food Scientist.
• Support in operations for the processing and commercialization of new innovations.
• Ensure all food developments meet all required food and safety, consumer, and industry standards.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
  
  

Position Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Microbiology, Food Chemistry, or related field is required. Master’s degree is preferred.
• Eight (8) years of relevant work experience in food analysis related to vegetables, spices, and related consumer products is required.
• Understanding of basic food processing and analytical techniques in chemical and microbiological analysis is required. Experience leading/managing teams is preferred.
• Experience in development related to vegetables, spices and related consumer products is strongly preferred.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Products is required.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, and excellent analytical and problem-solving skills are required.
• Ability to work with multiple cross functional teams and geographies as well as with internal and external customers. Proven ability to interact effectively with department, company or customer associates and experience in a team-oriented environment is required.
• Proficient in SAP platform is preferred.
• Understanding of basic food processing and analytical techniques in chemical and microbiological analysis is required.