Principal Scientist

ConAgra Foods, Inc. (NYSE: CAG) is one of North America's leading packaged food companies, serving grocery retailers, as well as restaurants and foodservice establishments. The company employs more than 40,000 people and has annual revenues of $15 billion. ConAgra Foods offers dozens of famous brands such as: Healthy Choice, Van Camp's, Butterball, Armour, Parkay, Banquet, Hunt's, Peter Pan, Wesson, Marie Callender's, Slim Jim and Orville Redenbacher's.The ConAgra Foods culture supports strong, self-reliant leadership capable of working in an evolving and matrixed team environment. The down-to-earth, pragmatic environment is focused on results, and employees are passionate about making a difference.To assist CFI in the creation of exceptional savory and sweet compounded flavors (topnotes), provide technical assistance to internal and external customers when required, and enhance the CFI image as a flavor leader.Flavor Creation: Develop savory and/or sweet compounded flavors to support Sales and Marketing-driven projects. Spray Dry forms when required.(30%)
Flavor Duplication: Utilize organoleptic expertise and analytical support tools to duplicate/match competitor flavor samples for project requests. (30%)
Flavor Application Support: Work closely and communicate clearly with the Flavor Application Team when evaluating flavors in finished recipes to determine flavor stability and if additional flavor modification work is necessary (15%)
Customer & Sales Service: Adhere to and enhance high flavor standards while providing technical support and solutions for the benefit of CFI customers. Visit customers, assist in presentations, and attend industry trade shows when required. (10%)
Technical Support: Advise CFI Regulatory Group in labeling interpretations when needed, and CFI Purchasing on supplier and ingredient questions. (5%)
Product Knowledge: Maintain strong knowledge base of existing flavor compounds, and keep up-to-date with new developments (including encapsulation/processing techniques) to maintain leadership presence in the industry. (5%)Qualifications/ Education/Experience/Skills:
Education: B.S. in chemistry or related food science degree preferred.
Experience: 10-15 years of industrial experience working for a flavor company as a (Sr.)Flavorist.Skills:
Project & Time Management: Be able to coordinate, prioritize, be flexible, and deliver the timely execution of projects and related paperwork.
Professionalism & Leadership: Work on a high professional level with customers and company colleagues for complete execution of projects (i.e. R&D, Marketing, Sales, Operations, etc.). Possess strong leadership skills and carry credibility.
Communication/Presentation Skills: Excellent communication (written & oral) and presentation skills, strong interpersonal and leadership abilities, team player who is capable of functioning in a corporate environment, and who is proactive and goal-oriented in driving business growth.
Customer Etiquette & Relationships: Must respect the right of the customer to conduct their business in the manner they see fit, and honor all knowledge of the customer's business as strictly confidential. Maintain and develop long-term business relationships with customers.
Self-Management: Be able to recognize, analyze, develop solutions, and initiate problem-solving action for customers even when little information or direction is given. Be a self-starter.
Housekeeping Skills: Responsible for good housekeeping skills. Good Manufacturing Practice (when needed), general up-keep of lab & equipment, and storeroom supplies.Equipment Operation:
Spray Dryers (Anhydro and Bowen BLSA)Physical Demands:
Work Environment: Work alone, with others, verbal contact with others, face-to-face contact, extended day, lab/kitchen/office/factory environment.Physical Requirements: Vision/hearing/listening, smelling, tasting, walking, lifting (up to 30 lbs), carrying (up to 20 lbs), climbing flights, stooping, bending, sitting, standing, driving.
ConAgra Foods offers a competitive benefits package, including comprehensive medical, dental and vision plans; life insurance for yourself and your dependents; short-term and long-term disability plans; flexible spending accounts; 401(k) retirement savings plan and company paid pension plan. Additional benefits we offer include, but are not limited to, a stock purchase program; tuition reimbursement and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).ConAgra Foods, Inc. is committed to the provision of equal employment for all qualified persons in all job classifications in recruitment, selection and promotion without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, gender, veteran status or disability or any other protected characteristics.
REQUIREMENTS
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