Senior Flavor Applications Scientist

Summary

We are seeking a Flavor Applications Scientist to join our Innovation R&D team and serve as the primary flavor subject matter expert supporting R&D initiatives across a fast-paced innovation pipeline.

This role will partner closely with R&D scientists, cross-functional stakeholders, and external flavor partners to identify, develop, optimize and commercialize flavor solutions that meet product, brand, technical, cost and timeline objectives. The successful candidate will lead flavor strategy and selection from concept through commercialization, providing hands-on application expertise, sensory evaluation, formulation support, and technical guidance throughout the development process.

The ideal candidate brings strong experience in flavor applications, flavor selection, dairy and beverage systems, vendor collaboration, and sensory evaluation, along with a natural curiosity and passion for translating product ideas into successful consumer experiences.

Location: North Brunswick, NJ (on-site); anticipated relocation to NYC 2027

Responsibilities

Flavor Development and Product Support

• Serve as the primary flavor subject matter expert supporting Innovation R&D projects.
• Lead flavor development activities across product innovation projects from concept through commercialization.
• Partner with scientists to translate project briefs into flavor strategies aligned with target sensory profiles, brand positioning, technical requirements and cost objectives
• Evaluate, screen, and recommend flavor systems across a variety of food and beverage applications.
• Conduct bench-top flavor trials and optimize flavor performance within finished product matrices.
• Troubleshoot flavor-related challenges including flavor impact, off-notes, masking requirements, flavor stability and interactions with sweeteners, proteins, cultures, stabilizers and other key ingredients.
• Provide flavor-focused guidance during formulation development to ensure flavor systems perform effectively through processing and shelf-life.

Vendor Management and External Collaboration

• Serve as the primary point of contact for flavor houses and external partners supporting innovation projects.
• Develop clear and effective flavor briefs outlining project objectives, target sensory attributes, formulation context, ingredient restrictions, timing requirements and business needs.  
• Manage flavor submissions, coordinate tasting reviews, provide actionable feedback, and drive iterative development towards final flavor selection.
• Build strong strategic relationships with flavor partners to improve responsiveness, creativity and speed to solution.
• Evaluate emerging flavor technologies, ingredients, and external capabilities to identify new opportunities for the business.

Sensory and Technical Evaluation

• Lead and facilitate flavor reviews, sensory evaluations, benchmarking activities, and comparative tastings in finished product systems.
• Partner with internal stakeholders to assess flavor fit, performance, consumer relevance and technical feasibility.
• Maintain clear documentation of flavor submissions, evaluations, key learnings, and final decisions.
• Support the development of internal best practices for flavor evaluation, flavor communication and knowledge sharing.

Commercialization and Cross Functional Partnership

• Lead flavor selection and optimization through pilot, scale-up, and commercialization phases.
• Collaborate with New Product Development, Procurement, Quality, and Regulatory to ensure flavor decisions align with business and commercialization requirements.
• Assess flavor-related risks associated with supply continuity, cost, regulatory compliance and technical feasibility.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of flavor development processes, vendor management practices and innovation ways of working.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Food Engineering or related scientific discipline. Advanced degree preferred.
• 4-7+ years experience in flavor applications, flavor development, or related R&D roles.
• Experience working directly with flavor house and managing flavor development projects from brief through commercialization.  
• Strong understanding of flavor functionality within dairy, cultured dairy, beverage, or adjacent categories.
• Hands-on bench formulation experience and comfort working in a laboratory environment.
• Strong sensory evaluation skills with the ability to translate flavor observations into clear technical recommendations for internal stakeholders and vendor partners.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced innovation environment.
• Strong communication and influencing skills with the ability to effectively partner across technical and cross functional teams.
• Ability to travel up to 30% to support vendor visits, pilot and plant trials, cross-site collaboration and other business needs.