JOB SUMMARY

The job of the Food Scientist is to research, formulate, develop and scale up gummy and confectionary products, to align new product ideas with the company’s strategic focus and to manage all product development projects.

This position will help develop recipes, specifications, standards and manufacturing procedures for new products and make changes to existing products and processes through creative gummy and confectionary development.

Other responsibilities include the ability to: assess scientific, food, health and consumer trends to identify new product opportunities; combine confectionary technologies with nutritional supplements to create innovative products in the dietary supplement category; maintain a consistent pipeline of new products from concept through to launch, emphasizing speed to market; oversee detailed project management of each development project to ensure critical launch dates are met; implement sensory evaluation and physical characteristic standards to help evaluate consumer acceptance of new product ideas; develop new and improved methods and systems related to nutritional supplements, gummy and confectionary products; partner with vendors to source raw materials and new product ideas and development; collaborate with our Marketing and Sales departments to ensure that new products align with brand and customer strategies; participate in the scale up of products into Production; optimize current product formulas to improve flavor, color, texture, nutritional value, convenience and composition; work with Purchasing and Finance to minimize product cost; and direct, train and develop department staff.

Requirements:

• Extensive confectionary experience, particularly with gummies and jells.
• Experience with molded jelled candies and familiar with starch chemistry.
• Experience strongly preferred in sensory, fats/oils, nutritional/probiotics/health foods and flavors.
• Thorough knowledge of nutritional supplements.
• Knowledge of chemical and functional interactions of ingredients.
• Familiarity of FDA requirements related to dietary supplements and food.
• Knowledge of quality control and research development procedures.
• Extensive experience with food technologies and flavor application.
• Strong project management experience, the ability to set strategic goals and objectives and to facilitate product development initiatives.
• Strong laboratory skills including: moisture analysis, pH, brix, titratable acidity, water activity, texture analysis and organoleptic evaluation.
• Degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Biology or related field with at least 3-5 years product development experience, preferably gummy, jells or confectionary products.
• A good appreciation of commercial and technical aspects of gummy, jell, confectionary or food production.