Food Scientist

Based in Mount Prospect, IL, Mizkan America is a subsidiary of the Mizkan Group, a global, family-owned company that has been Bringing Flavor to Life for over 220 years. As one of the leading makers of vinegars, condiments, and sauces in the United States, Mizkan America maintains 12 manufacturing facilities that serve the retail, foodservice, specialty-Asian, and food-ingredient trade channels. We are committed to following our two core principles: continuously challenging the status quo and delivering only the finest products for our customers. Our leadership seeks out, embraces, and implements ideas for improvement from all of its employees. Transparency and accountability are two key factors that drive our company’s overall management approach.

We are looking for people who are seeking to deliver their best so that we can deliver ours. Above all, we’re dedicated to maximizing the potential of our greatest assets—our team members. That’s reflected in our ongoing commitment to recruit, develop, reward, and retain our talented, multicultural workforce. We hope to see you as part of our team’s future success!

Are you passionate about food science innovation and eager to influence the growth of Mizkan America? Join the vibrant, cross-functional team at Mizkan America Research & Development as an R&D Scientist! We’re looking for a talented individual to lead product development initiatives within our Flavor Enhancers portfolio such as Mizkan, Nakano, and Holland House brands.

As an R&D scientist, you will have the opportunity to drive innovation, renovation, and maintenance of product lines, enabling growth and ensuring quality objectives and business continuity for Mizkan America. Your role will involve prioritizing and executing technical projects that contribute to the ongoing projects and Innovation Pipeline for the business.

About The Job

Scope of Duties/Responsibility:

As a key member of the Product Development team, the individual will support Product development from concept to commercialization for the Flavor Enhancers products.

• Responsible for designing and developing new product formulations, portfolio renovation, and customer product needs across various product lines.
• Work from ideation to commercialization, benchtop prototyping to final production, and specification development for finished products.
• Responsible presenting Technical Design Review of projects led with cross functional partners.
• Responsible for leading coordinating and successfully executing plant trials at Mizkan factories/external co-manufacturing facilities.
• Support pilot plant trials on project requirements.
• Responsible for creating, issuing, and owning accurate product and ingredient specifications.
• Responsible for presenting and providing technical updates during commercial project team meetings.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring adherence to commercial timelines.
• Build strong relationships and collaborate with internal and external partners to optimize product development, evaluate technical problems and provide recommendations for corrective actions.
• Willingness to travel approximately 40% of the time.
  
  

Education, Experience

• BS/MS in Food Science, Food Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Biological Engineering, or related field.
• Minimum 2 years of experience required in a technical function, or food related role.
• Fermentation knowledge or Asian product or salad dressing/cooking sauce/table sauce product experience is a plus.
• Product development and commercialization experience.
• Understanding of ingredient functionality and interrelationship of ingredients and process.
• Understanding of food safety / quality / legality of product and process.
• Strong communication skills, organizational, problem solving and analytical skills.
• Good interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively with individuals and groups at all levels of the organization.
• Strong Computer Literacy skills. Excellent power point presentation skills and Excel experience.
• Willingness and flexibility to adapt to changing business needs and deadlines.
• Ability to exhibit a professional businesslike appearance and demeanor.
  
  

The annual base salary for this position ranges from $82,400 to $117,000. Compensation is based on a number of factors including market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills and experience. Short-Term Incentive and other forms of compensation may also be provided as part of a total compensation package.

A full range of medical, dental, vision, 401K plus up-to-four-percent (4%) match, profit sharing, wellness program, paid parental leave, long-term-care insurance, critical accident insurance, short- and long-term disability and education assistance are also available.