Snacks Team Lead

At IFF we combine science and creativity to develop some of the most groundbreaking products in our industry - it’s our purpose and the reason we love doing what we do Why not see how far your career passion can take you? Come join the creative and empowered people who work at International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc.

We are looking for a full time **Snack Team Lead** / **Senior Seasoning Flavorist **located in Haverhill, UK to provide team leadership and snack seasoning excellence incorporating the full IFF combined portfolio of flavors and ingredients.

**Role Vision**:
In this position you will lead the Seasoning Creation team in diverse and exciting projects within the Snack Category. Working in a team environment, IFF expect you to cultivate innovation and creativity to assist our customers in enhancing their existing brand portfolio, ensuring the successful launch of their new product lines, and collaborating to develop the category further through innovation to address category challenges; creating next generation seasonings to address market dynamics and changing consumer tastes.

This position both responds to the reactive needs of the Business and its execution as well as people management and area coordination. This post needs a team lead who actively seeks out the many opportunities to challenge current thinking and move the snacks team forward in its development. This is a great opportunity for someone who is looking to advance their career with one of the world's largest and most successful flavor creation and ingredient companies.

**Main responsibilities**:

- Lead, motivate, mentor and train other members of the team such as trainees and junior Seasoning Flavorist.
- Positively reinforce a high performing culture and provide vision and drive.
- Create winning seasonings & taste solutions within predefined time/quality/cost criteria.
- Manage projects in response to customer briefings, to achieve profitable business growth.
- Actively build strong multi-level relationships with key customers in partnership with sales team.
- Collaborate cross functionally and cross regionally to support overall goals of Snacks Europe.
- Anticipate, investigate, and resolve problems with raw materials and finished seasonings as needed.
- Utilize IFF technology to deliver unique solutions to the marketplace.
- Support introduction of new raw materials in the creative portfolio.
- Support the scale up of new formulations in pilot plant and production.
- Work collaboratively with procurement and production to ensure smooth transition from lab to pilot and finally full-scale production.
- Clear understanding of the UK/EU snack market and consumer preferences.

**Job Requirements**:
**Required Skills**:

- Top level competence in Seasoning creation and delivery systems for snacks end use.
- Expert tasting and evaluation skills in the snack & savory segment.
- Able to lead customer working sessions, strong ability to listen to customers and deliver on their expectations.
- Proactively evaluates and determines the added value of new materials and technologies.
- Increases own knowledge through participating in courses and reading industry literature.
- Outstanding team player with excellent communication skills.

**Required Experience**
- Minimum Bachelor (BS) degree in Food Technology, Food Science, Chemistry, or Life Sciences.
- Minimum 10 years’ experience in flavor industry creative function with exposure to cross-functional team roles.
- 5 years specific in the field of snacks.
- Demonstrable global account interaction and proven track record of successful product launches.

**Preferred**:

- Master’ degree in Food Technology, Chemistry, Life Sciences, Food Engineering and/or Chemistry Engineering.
- At least 5-10 years proven track record working as Seasoning Flavorist internationally.
- At least 2 years’ experience in the FMCG Snack sector.

**Job Location**
- Haverhill, UK.
- Travel: 30%.

**Position Type**
- Full-Time/Regular.

IFF is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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